What did the study in chapter 2 tracking Australian citizens from 1981 to 1987 find?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by restating the core question: What did the chapter 2 study tracking Australian citizens from 1981 to 1987 find about happiness and life events?
Option 1: 'Events are neither positive or negative depending on the person' This is too absolute and ignores the common finding that people perceive and react to events differently, but it doesn't address the study’s emphasis on changes in happiness and the set point. It also incorrectly rules out any systematic impact of events on happiness across individuals.
Option 2: 'Positive and negative life events had no impact on happiness' This claim contradicts a large body of happiness research showing that major life events can shift happiness temporarily or in some cases longer term. The study in question emphasizes some impact, so this option is inaccurate.
Option 3: 'Positive life events increased happiness, while negative life events decreased happiness' While intuitively plausible, this option suggests a uniform directional effect for both positive and negative events. Many studies find that the magnitude and direction of happiness changes depend on expectations, adaptation, and individual differences, so presenting a simple bidirectional effect may oversimplify the findings of the study in question.
Option 4: 'Positive and negative life events had an impact on happiness, but individuals tended to revert to their genetically determined set point' This option captures a twofold idea: life events can influence happiness (temporary or otherwise), but there is a tendency for happiness to re-stabilize around a relatively stable set point driven by genetics and dispositions. This aligns with hedonic adaptation theory and the type of longitudinal finding described for a long-term panel study.
Option 5: 'Negative life events had a greater impact on happiness than positive life events' This asserts an asymmetry in impact without considering adaptation and whether positive events can also have lasting effects. The study description provided does not necessarily support a greater impact of negative events over positive ones across the entire period, so this option may be an overgeneralization.
In summary, the reasoning behind each option hinges on whether the statement acknowledges both the presence of event-related fluctuations in happiness and the subsequent pull back toward an individual’s baseline set point, rather than endorsing a purely static, absolute, or unidirectional effect. The option that best reflects the nuanced view of temporary influence plus a reversion to a genetically influenced baseline is the one that mentions both impact and eventual reversion to a set point, rather than claiming no impact, purely directional effects, or a greater burden from negative events.

Accelerated ELL Writing 2 | The How of Happiness Quiz: Chapter 2 (p. 49-68)

What did the study in chapter 2 tracking Australian citizens from 1981 to 1987 find?

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