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Janelle believes that having luxurious products is the secret to happiness. Given what you know about happiness, what would you tell her?
On Sep 22, 2024
Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions.
I would tell Janelle that material, luxurious products are not the secret to happiness. People who put greater emphasis on material goods are less happy. And people are less happy after making a purchase of a material good as opposed to a purchase of an experience. In one study, respondents were asked to think of either a material purchase (defined as a purchase made with the primary intention of acquiring a material possession) or an experiential purchase (defined as a purchase made with the primary intention of acquiring a life experience), which were matched for price. The authors found that experiential purchases brought respondents more happiness than did material purchases. This is because experiential purchases are more open to positive reinterpretations, are a more meaningful part of one's identity, and contribute more to successful social relationships.