If you think that having a lot of money, attracting attention and having a beautiful appearance, improve your life – think again. A new study by three Rocherster Universities demonstrate that these goals actually make people more miserable.
“People understand that the desire to achieve goals in life is of paramount importance, and they believe that these goals will have a positive impact on their lives. Our study shows that this is true not for all purposes “, – said Edward Deci, a psychology professor and a social science of Goven University. “Even given the fact that our culture identifies the desire for fame and fortune as an important goal , achieving them is not conducive to life satisfaction. Personal growth, creating strong relationships, love – these are the things that make our lives better, “- says Desi.
The research published in June on the issue of the journal “Studies of Personality,” is devoted to monitoring the 147 graduates of the two universities in the two years after graduation. Using a variety of psychological surveys, the researchers assessed the participants on key parameters such as life satisfaction, self-esteem, anxiety, physical symptoms of stress and the experience of positive and negative emotions. With two types of questions on life goals the participants were categorized as either “internal” or “external”. The researchers asked the subjects, how important is a “serious, stable relationship,” for them and the ability to “help others improves their lives” (internal goals), or how important it is to be a “rich man” and “look good” (external goals). Respondents also reported to psychologists about the degree of achievement of these goals. To track changes, a survey conducted twice a year after release and after two years after graduation.
According to Christopher Niemisa, professor of psychology, this time period was chosen because it is a critical time of development in the life of graduates. Young graduates are not attached to the house or university. For the first time, they are able to do in life what they want themselves. As more and earlier studies, this experiment confirmed that the more people are committed to their goals, the higher the probability of success. But, in contrast to earlier results, these new studies have shown that the achievement of this goal does not always lead to positive results. According to Niemisa, in psychology there is a law: if you are trying to target and reach it, your life will be better. But previous studies did not consider the content of these goals.
The study of Rocherster universities is striking. It turned out that the attainment of wealth actually contributed to the deterioration of living subjects. Despite their achievement, people experiencing negative emotions such as shame and anger, exhibited signs of physical stress such as headaches, pains in the stomach and loss of energy. In contrast to this, participants focused on “internal purposes “experienced life satisfaction , creating a serious relationship, developing their personality , etc. Their health was much better in relations with other people they were stronger and deeper, they experienced less stress and tension. The results of this study support the “theory of self-determination” the well-known theory of human motivation developed by Deci and the psychologist Richard Raina. It consists in the fact that welfare depends to a considerable degree of satisfaction on the basic of psychological needs that are required to experience autonomy, competence, and social involvement. According to the authors, “domestic purposes” make people happy, because their achievement meets the fundamental human needs. “The internal target is closer to what is laid to us, and not to the fact that is beyond us, “- explains Niemis. On the other hand, the struggle for wealth and power, cannot meet these basic psychological needs, at least in the period beginning a career man. In addition, the target group of this study were educated graduates of prestigious universities, therefore, the authors highlight the need for similar studies in other demographics and age ranges. That , however, regarding the participants in this study, the pursuit of goals such as earnings and career, can drive psychological needs to young people: hobbies or holidays with friends and family. By the same, as opposed to long-term positive effect of stable relationships and acquired skills, the thrill of achieving “external goals quickly pass and are forgotten. “
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