Happiness and Well-being in Turbulent Times 9 th December 2008 Centre for Confidence & Well-being, Glasgow Nic Marks Founder of centre for well-being nef (the new economics foundation)
Turbulent Times? What do we mean by Well-being? The Foresight Project A Dynamic Model of Well-being Values and Well-being Five Ways to Well-being Happy Planet Index
What do we mean by “well-being”? Well-being = The quality of people’s experience of their lives WHO definition of health as: “A state of complete physical, mental and social well- being, and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity”: 1946
What do we mean by “well-being”? Well-being = The quality of people’s experience of their lives WHO definition of health as: “A state of complete physical, mental and social well- being, and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity”: 1946 dynamic
What do we mean by “well-being”? Well-being = The quality of people’s experience of their lives “Feeling good AND doing well” A 1960s definition of self-esteem…
The Foresight Project Sponsored by DIUS – Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Two year project, reported in October 2008 Involved over 400 experts – neuroscience to economics
Mental Capital This encompasses a person’s cognitive and emotional resources. It includes their cognitive ability, how flexible and efficient they are at learning, and their “emotional intelligence”, such as their social skills and resilience in the face of stress. It therefore conditions how well an individual is able to contribute effectively to society, and also to experience a high personal quality of life. The idea of “capital” naturally sparks association with ideas of financial capital and it is both challenging and natural to think of the mind in this way.
Mental Well-Being This is a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfil their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society.
The Foresight Project Main Findings: Early Intervention is crucial Small increases in well-being can produce a decrease in mental health problems Substantial scope for improving how to tackle the huge problem of mental ill-health – which costs £77 billion a year
Enabling conditions Psychological resources A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources A dynamic model of well-being Mental Capital
Enabling conditions Psychological resources e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture A dynamic model of well-being Well-Being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture e.g. happiness, satisfaction, interest, boredom and distress A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture e.g. happiness, satisfaction, interest, boredom and distress A dynamic model of well-being
GDP and Life Satisfaction A Challenge to the Political Status Quo
Year of Widowhood Micro data: Widowhood and Well-being
Micro data: Divorce and Well-being Year of Divorce
Micro data: Marriages and Well-being
Diminishing marginal returns of well-being to income
Income & Social Connections
Turbulent Times? What do we mean by Well-being? The Foresight Project A Dynamic Model of Well-being Values and Well-being Five Ways to Well-being Happy Planet Index
Tim KASSER: values circumplex Reference: Grouzet, F., Kasser, T., Ahuvia, A., Fernández, J.M., Kim, Y., Lau, S., Ryan, R., Saunders, S., Schmuck, P., & Sheldon, K. (2005). The structure of goal contents across 15 cultures. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89,
Tim KASSER: values circumplex
People with more extrinsic values have… Higher levels of: –anxiety –depression –physical symptoms (e.g. sleeplessness, headaches) –unpleasant emotions –drug & alcohol use Lower levels of: –vitality –satisfaction with their lives –pleasant emotions
People with more extrinsic values show… Less pro-social and more anti-social behaviour Less empathy for others Greater competitiveness Less inclination to shared & act generously And critically… higher ecological footprints and perform fewer positive environmental behaviors Report less concern for the environment
And we’re moving in the wrong direction.. Be very well off financially Develop a meaningful philosophy of life
Turbulent Times? What do we mean by Well-being? The Foresight Project A Dynamic Model of Well-being Values and Well-being Five Ways to Well-being Happy Planet Index
Five ways to well-being Commissioned by the Foresight Project – the brief was as below: Building on the findings of the draft outputs of the Mental Capacity and Wellbeing Project, Foresight would like to develop an evidence-based wellbeing equivalent of the health promotion dictum “five fruit and vegetables a day”.
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture e.g. happiness, satisfaction, interest, boredom and distress A dynamic model of well-being
Enabling conditions Psychological resources Functioning well and satisfaction of needs Experience of life e.g. to be autonomous, competent, and connected to others e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem e.g. opportunities and obstacles, inequalities, social norms, culture e.g. happiness, satisfaction, interest, boredom and distress A dynamic model of well-being
Five ways to well-being
Connect… With the people around you. With family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. At home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Five ways to well-being Be active… Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Five ways to well-being Take notice… Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
Five ways to well-being Keep learning… Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Take on a different responsibility at work. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. Learning new things will make you more confident as well as being fun.
Five ways to well-being Give… Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
Turbulent Times? What do we mean by Well-being? The Foresight Project A Dynamic Model of Well-being Values and Well-being Five Ways to Well-being Happy Planet Index
HPI in Europe over time
HPI 2050: Sustainable Living % reduction in CO 2 emissions Life Expectancy 80yrs Life Satisfaction 8/10 Resource efficiency to improve by over 80%
Creating Timely Feedback Loops % reduction in CO 2 emissions Life Expectancy 80yrs Life Satisfaction 8/10 Resource efficiency to improve by over 80%
Three recent reports Measuring Wellbeing in Policy; Sam Thompson, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08 Local Wellbeing – can we measure it? ; Nicola Steuer, Nic Marks; Young Foundation & nef; Sept 08 Five Ways to Wellbeing: the evidence; Jody Aked, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08
Three recent reports Measuring Wellbeing in Policy; Sam Thompson, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08 Local Wellbeing – can we measure it? ; Nicola Steuer, Nic Marks; Young Foundation & nef; Sept 08 Five Ways to Wellbeing: the evidence; Jody Aked, Nic Marks; Foresight & nef; Oct 08 Forthcoming: National Accounts of Well-being; January 2009 Happy Planet Index; July 2009
nef’s centre for well-being Reports downloadable from Nic Marks: