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THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT THE ACTION FOR HAPPINESS MOVEMENT - Coggle Diagram
THE SAD TRUTH ABOUT THE ACTION FOR HAPPINESS MOVEMENT
Action for Happiness
10 "keys to happier living"
taking a positive approach, having goals to look forward to and finding ways to bounce back.
the approach is based on two flawed assumptions
the solution lies in change at the level of the individual.
the source of unhappiness lies inside people's heads
has its roots in the "positive psychology" movement that emerged in the US in the late 1990s
BUT
a major contribution to serious emotional distress is income inequality – the growing gap between the richest and poorest people in society.
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett in The Spirit Level: mental health problems are highest in those countries with the greatest gaps between rich and poor, and lowest in countries with smaller differences.
Conclusion
A person's ability to make changes in their lives depends not only on the individual but on their social context
whether they have supportive relationships, a reasonable income and poverty or child abuse
the fundamental attribution error: take into consideration only individual factors no social context
To increase happiness we need firm action on inequality, rather than this vague Action for Happiness.
What can happen because of Action for Happiness
Plans aimed at increasing individual resilience may have the unintended side-effects
increasing the self-blame of those who struggle in adversity
supporting social policies experienced by some poor people as "victim blaming".