Myers and Diener (1995) (classical evidence)

Overview of Myers and Diener (1995)

Myers and Diener (1995) conducted research into subjective well-being, aiming to examine the aspects of life that contribute to happiness and satisfaction.
Their work is considered foundational in the realm of positive psychology, as it pushed researchers to redirect their focus from solely examining distress and dysfunction to also identifying and understanding positive experience.

The Research and Findings of Myers and Diener

The researchers utilised surveys and questionnaires to measure subjective well-being, with a focus on life satisfaction and the balance between positive and negative affect.
They discovered that wealth was not significantly linked to happiness. Beyond a certain income threshold necessary to meet basic needs, increased wealth did not equate to increased happiness.
Good personal relationships were found to be a strong predictor of happiness, reinforcing the positive psychology emphasis on social connections and interactions.
Conducive work environment and fulfilling jobs were also identified as key happiness contributors, aligning with the positive psychology focus on meaningful work and engagement.

Implications of Myers and Diener (1995)

The study shifted the understanding of happiness from a simplistic focus on wealth and material possessions to a more complex model involving personal relationships, meaningful work, and autonomy.
It played a significant part in tilting psychology’s focus towards strengths, virtues and positive experiences.
The study underlines the importance of cultivating positive experiences and relationships to boost subjective well-being.

Evaluation of Myers and Diener (1995)

Myers and Diener’s research is lauded for its contribution towards extending the scope of psychological research to include positive aspects of human experience.
Critics, however, point out that their research relied heavily on self-report measures, which can be subject to bias and inaccuracies.
There is also a risk of ignoring individuals who struggle with finding happiness due to mental health issues or adverse socio-economic conditions.

In summary, Myers and Diener’s (1995) research significantly contributed to our understanding of happiness and subjective well-being, providing empirical backing to many assumptions of positive psychology. Despite its criticisms, their work remains deeply influential in the field and has provided crucial impetus to the positive psychology movement.