According to the book The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky, what is happiness?

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The question asks about Sonja Lyubomirsky's characterization of happiness in The How of Happiness. 
Option 1: 'A result of external circumstances' — This is a common belief, but Lyubomirsky argues that happiness is not solely determined by external events; her happiness set point and the relative contributions of genes, circumstances, and intentional activity imply that external luck or misfortune alone cannot fully account for lasting happiness. Therefore this option is incomplete or misleading.
Option 2: 'A genetic predisposition' — Genetics do play a role in happiness, but Lyubomirsky emphasizes that happiness is not fixed by biology alone; intentional activities can influence happiness levels beyond genetic baseline. Hence this overstates the genetic claim and is not the best characterization.
Option 3: 'A state of mind' — This aligns with Lyubomirsky’s view that happiness is a subjectively experienced state that can be cultivated through intentional actions, cognitive strategies, and practices. It captures the idea that happiness refers to a mental and emotional condition rather than a tangible object or fixed trait.
Option 4: 'A universal goal of everyone in the world' — While happiness is a widely pursued aim, Lyubomirsky treats happiness as a personal, internal state rather than a universal, uniform goal applicable in the same way to all individuals, cultures, or contexts. This makes the option overly normative and not an accurate definitional claim.
Option 5: 'A temporary feeling' — Happiness is described as a more enduring state compared to fleeting emotions like momentary joy or mood swings. It involves a stable sense of well-being rather than a transient mood, so labeling it as merely temporary is inaccurate.
In summary, the option that best fits Lyubomirsky’s definition is the one that frames happiness as a subjective mental state that can be cultivated, rather than something exclusively determined by luck, biology, universal imperatives, or merely transient sensations.

Accelerated ELL Writing 2 | The How of Happiness Quiz: Chapter 2 (p.27-48)

According to the book The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky, what is happiness?

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