Faking happiness leads to depression


	Faking happiness leads to depression

m_a_d_d_i_

1-1-2007 4:17 PM

3647 views

tags:

emotion, happiness, health, depression, customer service, retail, smiling

m_a_d_d_i_ says:

So much for the idea of smiling as inducing a good mood

12 Comments |

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1-1-2007 4:39 PM

Godfrey Daniel

I can hardly believe it! A research study that actually comports with commonsense and reality. Vielen dank.

1-1-2007 4:58 PM

egoldstein

I think this is a fascinating study. As someone who rarely hides my emotions, I suppose this is a good sign.

1-1-2007 5:59 PM

Godfrey Daniel

Actually, the demanded and imposed obsequiousness found in some workplace environments is probably much less producing of depression when taken and processed in that context by employees, than the self-chosen type that derives from personal insecurities.

So it would seem that the depression is result more of resentment of having to behave as instructed, and thus the happiness aspect incidental.

1-1-2007 9:37 PM

jatfla

Good grief, Godfrey! Tell me someone else had to look up "obsequiousness".

Faking happiness is different than being a "fake". Why in the world would a person try to be something they are not!!? You can be yourself without being disgustingly rude or obnoxious. The issue is learning how to discipline yourself to speak and act honestly without being offensive. There is a lot of peace in not having to pretend to be something you're not and still responding to difficult people in a way that is kind.

(I'm sure someone will pull up a post where I failed at this; but I know it's possible).

I think this is why so many marriages end so quickly. People are trying to conform to the image the...

1-1-2007 11:31 PM

Godfrey Daniel

I think you may have missed my point, Jatfla, which is not entirely surprising as I didn't directly state it.

Programmed and scripted behaviours not only preclude, or at least taint, actual kindess, they also make impossible other appropriate natural elements of human interaction.

I know someone who is unbelievably rude to support people on the phone, and, in face to face situations where he can get away with it.

It is excruciating to listen to his victims responding from their scripts as though talking to a normal person. These are the folks, who, if not keeping these unnatural interactions external and in context, could well be susceptible to depression, dog kicking, wife beatin...

1-2-2007 12:42 AM

enbar

That's a good point GD. I think you're probably right. At least the person who's stuck in a lousy job constantly sucking up to people who abuse him can complain in the breakroom to coworkers (I am speaking from experience here). A person who self-represses is in a worse situation -- his lousy job is, in effect, being himself, and he has no coworkers to commiserate with and no boss (besides himself) to rebel against.

1-2-2007 12:52 AM

Godfrey Daniel

word

1-2-2007 4:03 AM

aerynvala

"Every time a person is forced to repress his true feelings there are negative consequences for his health," said Professor Dieter Zapf

That deserves a "duh" of massive proportions.

1-2-2007 6:37 AM

pwright8

now, this clip is really worrying, not because of the content.. but because I'm finding myself totally in agreement with GD!!

1-2-2007 10:01 PM

matahari

I wish my parents could read and understand this...

1-6-2007 2:11 AM

l1wulf

Interesting article and interesting comments. The first thing that came to mind was another article (unfortunately, unable to find it now) written by an American (I'm pretty sure, maybe a Brit), who is living in Japan and their thoughts on the bubbling enthusiasm in the workplace there.

It was really interesting since it seemed that this behavior was so ingrained as to be natural by the native Japanese, and how incredibly hard it was, as a foreigner, to "keep up" so to speak. If I recall correctly, the author expressed how draining it was at the end of the day, etc.

So the question begs to be asked--would the above study hold water if it took place in Japan, where expressing true feelings is more the exception than the norm?

6-10-2007 6:50 PM

sidegik

say enforced jolliness on the job is much more likely to make people fall ill.

there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is more an excitement state, while joy is more of a peaceful state.

excitement stimulates the heart, while joy stimulates the spirit. i had observe my colleagues at work who are big greeters of "good morning" are usually have a more critical nature and are more impatient. and they are usually more friendly. that's why my thoughts on friendliness is not so positive. "friendliness to all, is a real friend to none" - sidegik.

all i need to know about society i learned in my workplace.

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