Classic research for the positive approach: Myers and Diener (1995), Who is happy? Aim, method (review of subjective wellbeing research), results, conclusions and evaluation.

What this dot point is asking

Myers and Diener (1995), Who is happy?, is the classic research evidence for the positive approach in Component 1. You must know its aim, method, findings and conclusions, evaluate it, and explain how it supports the positive-psychology focus on subjective wellbeing and flourishing.

The answer

Aim and method

Findings and conclusions

Evaluation

• Large evidence base. Synthesises many studies, so the broad conclusions are well supported and generalisable.
• Founding influence. Redirected psychology toward wellbeing, shaping later positive psychology and its interventions.
• Correlation not cause. The data are correlational, so the direction of effect is unclear (sociability could cause happiness or vice versa).
• Subjective, self-reported measures. Self-reports of happiness may be biased, and definitions of happiness are hard to measure objectively.
• Cultural bias. Measures and ideas of happiness may be biased toward Western, individualist values, and the review reflects its era.

Examples in context

Example 1. Why this anchors the positive approach. The study is the empirical foundation of positive psychology's claim that wellbeing is worth studying in its own right and depends on relationships, engagement and traits rather than circumstances. This maps onto the three pillars and signature strengths, which is why Eduqas uses it as the classic evidence for the positive approach.

Example 2. The link to interventions. If relationships, flow and optimistic traits predict happiness, then interventions that build them (gratitude, strengths use, mindfulness) should raise wellbeing. Myers and Diener therefore connect to positive psychology's applications, showing how the classic evidence motivates the therapy.

Try this

Q1. Name the three components of subjective wellbeing used by Myers and Diener. [3 marks]

• Cue. Frequent positive affect, infrequent negative affect, and high life satisfaction.

Q2. State two factors that were found to be strong predictors of happiness. [2 marks]

• Cue. Close, supportive relationships (including marriage), meaningful work and engagement (flow), optimistic and extravert personality, or faith for some.

Q3. Explain one weakness of the study. [2 marks]

• Cue. The evidence is correlational and self-reported, so causes cannot be established and reports may be biased; or measures of happiness may be culturally biased toward Western values.