OPINION & EDITORIAL
Why money does not mean happiness
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by Wasim Salman
Friday, March 9, 2007
Why are you here? What are you getting back from working all night and going to class all day? The answer for most is money. Polls show that most college students today are saying the reason they attend universities is to become financially stable and successful. Statistically, though, one-third of college students have experienced at least one prolonged period of depression. Can a correlation be drawn between the increased prioritization of the dollar and a lack of happiness?
According to an annual survey done with freshmen at UCLA, 75 percent of students entering universities today say that being financially successful is the most important aspect of life. This compares to a survey in 1980 in which 62.5 percent said financial stability was most important to them and a survey in 1966 where only 42 percent claimed they were working for the dollar. This shift from ideals to materials is a disturbing trend due to the fact that it generally leads to what can be called a social networking breakdown.
Due to the focus of college students on obtaining money and, consequentially, objects, Americans are becoming increasingly isolated in their adulthood. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average adult consumer spending on media in 2007 is forecasted to be $936.75. So, for almost $1,000 per person, we will all be able to distract ourselves for approximately 127 days of the year by being absorbed into some form of media, from television to music. However, spending half a year absorbed in media is taking its toll on the American adult mind.
According to the National Alliance On Mental Illness, "Fifty percent of students rate their mental health as below average or poor." The problem is that due to our obsession with constantly obtaining things, we are on the road to becoming increasingly isolated in our adulthood, and this isolation does wear on our bodies and minds.
Consider this: What if because of this almost collective depression, most college students today consume enormous amounts of alcohol and increasingly consume prescription drugs as stimulants? According to a study by Duke University, a significant number of college students drink until they experience memory "blackouts." Meanwhile, a 2005 study at the University of Michigan states 7 percent of college students have used prescription drugs as stimulants at least once in their lifetimes. Honestly, could all of this be a side effect of our increasing disassociation from each other?
A biological explanation comes in a discovery made in the 1980s by three scientists at Parma University in Italy of what are called "mirror neurons." These neurons reside in the human brain and assist humans with the understanding of intention and empathy. So, whenever one person sees another who is happy or sad, they tend to become happy or sad themselves, especially with close friends. Social interaction with close friends engages these neurons in such a way that as long as your friends are happy, so are you. Also, increased social interaction helps boost immunity and helps curb mental illness.
As students, we need to look at this and step away from the computers, the iPods and the televisions in order to take back our happiness. We need to stop being afraid of each other and interact. Living in an environment where one out of every two college students is depressed while chasing the dollar is not right. Obviously, our priorities are wrong. We need each other. So let's stop this rat race; let's step out of the maze of stuff we've built, and let's say hello.
Wasim Salman (salman@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in international relations.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 1:29am):
Hello Wasim, maybe while you were so busy with your other, more noble priorities you missed the lecture on corralation vs causation.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 7:31am):
Money can buy comfort, personal security, and confidence. That is, if you don't spend it all.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 7:49am):
First, financial stability is WAY different than blatant materialism. Second, try finding significant data on depression amongst the poor. There isn't that much, because they can't afford mental health services. If you think you've seen depressed college students, watch a 40 year old working 40 hours a week at a job they hate and still wondering if they'll have enough money to feed their kids decently. Then you'll know depression.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 9:38am):
and in the meantime 1:29 perhaps you can learn how to spell 'pretentious' or 'pointless'. . .or perhaps. . .just learn how to spell period.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 10:05am):
Wasim, having too much money is one thing, but with money, the happiness comes with knowing that you'll never starve to death.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 11:10am):
Money most definitely leads to happiness. I spend hundreds of $ a month of dvds, games, music, and other crap. I look around my arpartment at the huge stacks of cds and unplayed Xbox games and smile. I don't have any friends here because nobody is interested in watching cartoons with me, and I'm not interested in destroying my body with alcohol or other drugs--snack foods will do just fine. I can and do love fictional characters from my cartoons. The love between a man and a comic book character (her name starts with an R and rhymes with craven) is as pure as any love can be. Now if you'll excuse me, I have action figures to catalog.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 1:23pm):
Money may not mean happiness but lack of money doesn't mean happiness either.
You may not catch it anyway, but I think that the pursuit of happiness is easier if have a bit of extra money.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 2:31pm):
9:38 one misspelled word and you discount an entire statement? If you read the article there are several instances of the author correlating data and then starting sentences with 'due to' and the like - giving causation. That is not valid, there are too many confounds at work.
Anonymous (March 9, 2007 @ 4:30pm):
The thing is, I don't think anyone would state that people who have money are automatically happy. You can have money and be lonely, hate your job, etc. etc. But the fact that you know that you can pay your bills, eat well, and pay for some nice extras is a piece of mind that aids the pursuit of happiness.
ralphie sanchez (March 9, 2007 @ 4:55pm):
Wasim, liked the article and you make some good points. i agree with leaving the ipod at home because with it i totally ignore everybody else and while listening to DMX's "Ruff Ryder's Anthem" i just don't care about people and often want to tackle people on the way to class. I admit only being in college to make big money and my priorities are backwards.. You gotta do the work of my man JC and serve others
Michele Moore (March 9, 2007 @ 8:14pm):
Wealth buys freedom from some worries like adequate food, shelter and healthcare. Above that, studies show that wealthy people are not significantly happier than the rest of us.
Many people chase after success thinking success will bring them happiness and they are often very disappointed. Happiness and Success are two very different things. There are lots of successful people who are not especially happy.
There are simple, enduring, universal truths that lead to a happy life. Acquiring the beliefs, ideals and values of happy people is far more important to happiness than financial success.
To learn more see http://HappinessHabit.com
Michele Moore, author of
How To Live A Happy Life -
101 Ways To Be Happier
www.MicheleMoore.com
Anonymous (March 10, 2007 @ 5:52pm):
THERE IS NO "INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS" MAJOR, WASIM. DON'T LIE.
Anonymous (March 11, 2007 @ 8:20am):
I wanted to co-sign Michele Moore's comment. It is problematic to assume that pursuing financial stabilitiy is the same as pursuing happiness. I can be financially stable and be upset, while I can be financially unstable and be happy as hell. This can't be ignored.
-=Ken Tate'
Anonymous (March 11, 2007 @ 1:09pm):
Michele Moore has yet to retire. Unless she's making millions off her book, I'd like to see her try to survive on Social Security or disability when she's 75. Michele, let's see you write a book on it. The publishers and those who are retiring in a few years eagerly await your next best-seller!
Anonymous (April 2, 2007 @ 9:33pm):
Oooh... I must comment on this comment! :-)
"Michele Moore has yet to retire. Unless she's making millions off her book, I'd like to see her try to survive on Social Security or disability when she's 75. Michele, let's see you write a book on it."
You are very right, I hope I NEVER retire, I always want to work and be productive! I certainly want more from life than just survival. I hope you do too.
If faced with financial distress, I'd find some worthwhile work to do, it's out there.
The idea that the freedom to do nothing is somehow retired bliss eludes me. To retire with money and nothing meaningful to do would be very empty for me.
I love my work. If I couldn't do it, I'd find something worthwhile and meaningful I could do. That's the only way I know to be happy.
Michele Moore, author of
How To Live A Happy Life -
101 Ways To Be Happier
www.HappinessBlog.com
www.HappinessHabit.com
Anonymous (October 15, 2007 @ 12:51pm):
As money doesn't mean happiness, there's only
ONE alternative to it, & that's any moral theme, anyone's as of now welcome(+) to take up with me, please, so that I can more easi-ly find out what's when to be done about, - well, sorry, still to be continued, 'cos it remains to be seen.
Greetings from
Yours, faith-
fully, a.re-
spectlife70-
@gmail.com.
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