Community | February 10, 2009 | 28 comments

Study: Experiences make us happier than possessions

source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/02/10/happiness.possessions/index.html

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larock
Even in tough economic times, you may find yourself with a bit of cash to spare. You've been working hard, and you want to treat yourself. Should you spend it on an experience, such as a baseball game or concert, or a material object?

An experience may generate positive memories that outlast the allure of a new material possession.

Psychological research suggests that, in the long run, experiences make people happier than possessions.

That's in part because the initial joy of acquiring a new object, such as a new car, fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day, experts said. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to provide happiness through memories long after the event occurred.

Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, presented his findings this week at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology annual meeting.

The study looked at 154 people enrolled at San Francisco State University, with an average age of about 25. Participants answered questions about a recent purchase -- either material or experiential -- they personally made in the last three months with the intention of making themselves happy.


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28 comments // Study: Experiences make us happier than possessions

  • malathion
    • 0
      malathion  

    • there are some people in this world whom one can only pray will never discover the joys of experience , and will simply die on their couches watching CSI miami , oprah , judge ____ , etc. .

    • 3 years ago
  • estoppel
    • 0
      estoppel  

    • "Walk tall, kick ass, learn to speak Arabic, love music and never forget that you come form a long line of truth-seekers, lovers and warriors."
      Hunter S. Thompson

      Next stop, Mongolia!

    • 3 years ago
  • iammyfathersson
  • j_alexander00
  • darkhorsejim
    • 0
      darkhorsejim  

    • That's exactly why we need to celebrate our positive experiences & good times, leaving us fond, enduring memories that get us through the unavoidable bad times life throws at us when we least expect it.

    • 3 years ago
  • marpunk
    • 0
      marpunk  

    • This is not news! Being materialistic and greedy, from what I've found hasn't led to much happiness for more than a week...

    • 3 years ago
  • islek
    • 0
      islek  

    • Duh!

      Although, maybe it's not as obvious to some people.

      Once someone has the financial ability to live within their basic means, all material acquisitions are less fulfilling, at least in a sustaining way.

    • 3 years ago
  • sauceman
  • PirateSauce
    • 0
      PirateSauce  

    • That's why i never give girls expensive shit. They never remember it. They do remember a nice night out and a party in the bedroom though :)

    • 3 years ago
  • diabolical44
  • donkeyfly69
    • 0
      donkeyfly69  

    • now i know what i'm doing for valentines day. thanks for this post. i was on the fence between two ideas and now i know that an outing is way better than jewelry.

    • 3 years ago
  • Killswitch
  • nazbags
  • larock
  • VegaNerDiva
  • bansheewail
    • 0
      bansheewail  

    • I lived in Jackson Hole, WY for 5 years. It has a culture of experiential fashion. Which is to say, what you did today(Snow boarding, climbing, fly fishing, paddling, biking, para-gliding, etc.) was what made you cool, not the tag on the collar of your shirt or the car you drive.

    • 3 years ago
  • VegaNerDiva
  • ClareW
    • 0
      ClareW  

    • It's funny that this study has come out at the same time as the recession, because most good memorable experiences don't cost anything. (and no, there's no non-cheesy way to say that)

    • 3 years ago
  • Lazybones
  • sk8bs55
    • 0
      sk8bs55  

    • Indeed they do. In my experience, doing the things I like to do are more enjoyable however doing things with friends is most fulfilling. Whats more is if more people took what they liked to do and made it into their proffession then perhaps then there might not be so much economic trouble. Happy workers are more productive and are far more likelu to produce great work.

    • 3 years ago
  • blknight
    • 0
      blknight  

    • This is why all of America should refuse to work meaningless jobs. Key word, meaningless; I think people should still work, but be invested in something that has respect behind it.

    • 3 years ago
  • larock
  • Tygerian
    • 0
      Tygerian  
    • blknight:

      Or rather something they enjoy doing. The best work is one that you'd do for free, yet you're still getting paid.

      Though I believe this is a touchy topic currently...

    • 3 years ago
  • podman12
    • 0
      podman12  
    • blknight:

      Who is gonna serve you your fast food and clean up your trash, or pick your garbage off the side of the ride up? Pie in the sky logic is just ignorance and naïve.

    • 3 years ago
  • banditalamode
    • 0
      banditalamode  
    • blknight:

      "Dirty" jobs will always be done by someone working their way up, but the point is what are you working your way up to? A job with lots of money or something that makes you happy? Working at McDonalds to get you through school so you can we a wall street broker or a teacher?

      I think greed is always going to intervene, but as a society we should value intent and experience over possession. Wealth almost guarantees you've f'ed someone over.

    • 3 years ago
  • blknight
    • 0
      blknight  
    • blknight:

      To Podman

      A machine definitely has the capability to make my food and serve it to me, all we need is an engineer to over-look the station in case of malfunction or someone to reload the inventory. That way we don't waste bodies working jobs that minimize value to society.

      You took me too literally, but the possibilities are endless if you open your eyes and see the technology that we already possess... Scientists recently built a robot that learns on its own, from physical action to mental action. The worlds energy problem will be solved when oil runs out; we are a reactive world, even though our businesses like to think they are proactive--when they are only slightly ahead of the curve to reaction.

      Pie in the sky logic, haha, you sound like that guy who thought electricity was rubbish, or putting an airplane in the sky was absurd... Narrow minded fellow.

    • 3 years ago
  • Will_the_Thrill
    • 0
      Will_the_Thrill  
    • blknight:

      I see your point, blknight, but I have to say that I agree with podman. Pod man. You have to keep in mind that the majority of people don't have the luxery of choosing, they either work a shitty job or they don't eat. The other problem is we're approaching 7 billion people on the earth. If we keep introducing robots to do our jobs, the majority of people aren't going to survive. Do you really think people with money will pay people just for bein' people: no.

      The other problem is if we keep making robots with more advanced A.I. eventually they'll ask "why am i here?" "what is my purpose?" Do yourself a favor, watch the animatrix and the matrix again, and play mass effect on the 360. it will give you better perspective on the way A.I. will eventually develop. If a machine is programed to think for itself, what makes you think it won't feel the same way we do about life. Robots are made in our image, afterall.

      Food for thought.

    • 3 years ago
  • blknight
    • 0
      blknight  
    • blknight:

      Will_the_thrill...

      It's funny you brought that up. I always tell people that I think the Terminator movies are half right and that is what will happen eventually. As for the people with money and people without, I guess you are right win you spin it like that, but I think by that time we might have solved world hunger and food stamps would be handed out like candy... Wishful thinking I know, but only time will tell.

    • 3 years ago
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