Originally introduced in 2014, the so-named Happiness Equation or Happiness Formula was updated and was published in the journal Nature Communication in June 2016.
This mathematical equation for happiness was invented by the researchers at the University College of London in August, 2014. They said it could predict moment-to-moment happiness. This is based on the rewards people receive with respect to their expectations.
Can A Maths Formula Predict Happiness?
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Aug 2014.
In the first study, 26 subjects were asked to complete a decision-making task in which their choices would lead to outcomes involving financial gain or loss. During the task, their neural activity was continuously measured using fMRI, while repeatedly being asked how happy they were. The results were used to form ‘a mathematical formula for happiness’ that takes into account expectations during decision-making tasks.
Afterwards, Dr Robb Rutledge et al of the UCL Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging and the new Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing designed a game called “What makes me happy?” accessible by means of the app to put their formula to the test. The equation quite reliably predicted the moment-to-moment happiness of the participants, although awards were merely game points.
“We expected to see that recent rewards would affect moment-to-moment happiness but were surprised to find just how important expectations are in determining happiness,” says Rutledge. “In real-world situations, the rewards associated with life decisions such as starting a new job or getting married are often not realized for a long time, and our results suggest expectations related to these decisions, good and bad, have a big effect on happiness.”
“Life is full of expectations,” says Rutledge. “It is often said that you will be happier if your expectations are lower. We find that there is some truth to this.”Life is full of expectations. You will be happier if your expectations are lower. Click To Tweet
“If you have plans to meet a friend at your favorite restaurant, those positive expectations may increase your happiness as soon as you make the plan,” he says. “The new equation captures these different effects of expectations and allows happiness to be predicted based on the combined effects of many past events.”
“On average we are less happy if others get more or less than us, but this varies a lot from person to person. Interestingly, the equation allows us to predict how generous an individual will be in a separate scenario when they are asked how they would like to split a small amount of money with another person. Based on exactly how inequality affects their happiness, we can predict which individuals will be altruistic,” Rutledge further said.
Researchers hope that a deeper understanding of mood disorders and their better treatments will be guided to by this Happiness Formula.
• Read the latest update by the Max Planck Gesellschaft here: A new equation shows how our happiness depends not only on what happens to us but also how this compares to other people.
In The Happiness Equation, Neil Pasricha illustrates how to want nothing, do anything, and have everything. It’s a book that will change how you think about everything—your time, your career, your relationships, your family, and, ultimately, of course, your happiness. He says, “Being happier is the biggest challenge you face every single day at work.”
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