First of all, what does it mean to be happy? How is happiness defined in psychology? Are there different types of happiness? Most importantly, how can we find true happiness?
In his groundbreaking work on intrinsic motivation, Professor Steven Reiss called these two types of happiness "pleasure-based happiness" and "value-based happiness". Pleasure-based happiness refers to the sensory enjoyment people experience when watching a good movie, at a fun party or eating a favorite dessert. Subject to the law of diminishing marginal utility, this type of happiness usually lasts no more than a few hours.
Value-based happiness refers to the deep sense of fulfillment people feel when they find their lives meaningful. This type of happiness is enduring because it is not affected by the law of diminishing marginal utility and can be experienced again as it is remembered. For example, parents can experience value-based happiness just by recalling the joy they felt in raising their children.
These two types of happiness explain why people can be happy in pain or unhappy in pleasure. For example, someone who donates blood for a loved one may feel happy because of this altruistic act, whereas the physical sensation of giving blood is unpleasant. Conversely, even if there is pleasure during sexual intercourse, a person may be generally unhappy if they find their life aimless.
How do we experience life meaningfully by adopting a lifestyle that affirms our values?
The first step to achieving value-based happiness is to follow Socrates' advice to "know thyself". Developed for this very purpose, the Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP) measures a person's intrinsic motivations and core values. For example, the Independence scale of the RMP assesses the desire for self-efficacy. Those who are high in this need value personal freedom, while those who are low value cooperation. Another scale, Social Relationship, measures the desire for association with peers. Those who score high on this scale value the sense of belonging that socialization brings, while those who score low prefer privacy and solitude. The RMP assesses 16 different intrinsic motivations and their associated values. But research shows that only five or six of these motivations may be the most important for an individual.
Once the person knows their most important motivations and values, the second step is to identify which of their needs the current lifestyle fulfills and which it hinders. For example, someone who is highly RMP Order motivated places great importance on structure and stability. Such a person will feel satisfied in a career that requires planning and organization, but restless in a job that demands flexibility and spontaneity.
The third step in the pursuit of happiness is to choose relationships, careers and hobbies that naturally affirm one's most important values. Those with a high need for RMP Status (desire for respect based on social position) relate best to people who are attracted to symbols of wealth. Those with a low need for Physical Activity (desire for muscular exercise) may thrive in desk jobs that suit sedentary lifestyles. Those with a strong need for Idealism (desire for social justice) may enjoy volunteering in homeless shelters.
Pleasurable sensations can create a temporary positive mood. But studies show that when our behavior is aligned with our values, we experience an overall sense of well-being and a lasting sense that our lives are meaningful. In short, this is how we find true happiness.