Alyce Laraia
Professor Jizi
UWRT 1104
February 22, 2017
Can Money Buy Happiness? Double Entry Journal
Citation: Diener, Ed, and Robert Biswas-Diener. "Can Money Buy Happiness?" (n.d.): 160-74.
Web. 19 Feb. 2017.
Source: Quote (Page# or
Paragraph #)
The number of millionaires is
growing rapidly, with more
than 8 million in the United
States alone. pg 161
Indeed, the wealth of nations
is one of the strongest, if not
the strongest, predictors of the
life satisfaction in societies.
pg 163
Nicholson filed for
bankruptcy, was married five
times (once for only thirteen
weeks), and eventually wound
up working as a stripper and
drinking heavily. pg 165
People in some poor societies
are reasonably happy, at least
Responses
I believe this is due to the
growing popularity of social
media and the internet. Today,
people can become millionaires
off things like YouTube.
I dont find this surprising
because the wealth of a nation
also impacts the wealth of an
individual in that nation. If the
nation is poor, it will be much
more difficult for an individual
to be wealthy, and vice versa.
Im not really surprised with
most of this story because most
people who win a significant
amount of money end up
spending it all. But she had five
husbands?? I wonder if she told
each one how many times she
had been married before or if
she just said shed never been
married.
I believe this could be because
they are more grateful for the
above the neutral point. pg
166
Mother Teresa, the saintly
nun who spent her life caring
for the poor and dying,
suggested that there is
something worthwhile in every
corner of life, no matter how
humble. pg 167
And what of rich people who
are unhappy? pg 169
They drive a Toyota that runs
well, and one spouse usually
takes the bus to work. Their
leisure time is spent gardening,
watching DVDs, driving to see
relatives in nearby cities, and
attending their childrens
extracurricular events. pg 170
Having high aspirations is not
always bad, especially if they
match your level of income.
pg 172
The money-primed
participants were also less
helpful to a confederate who
appeared to accidentally have
things they do have instead of
moping over what they dont
have.
I think this is true because
people who are poorer tend to be
more optimistic. I admire
Mother Teresa for all she has
done for the poor.
I think they are unhappy
because they are no longer able
to have the same kind of
relationships they had before
they were famous or before they
had all their money.
Ill be honest here and say that
these are not my aspirations in
live. I dream of being able to
travel and see the world. Does
that mean Ill be unhappy in
life? I hope not.
I dont think my aspirations are
especially high because I was
able to go to places like the
beach when I was younger and
my parents had a middle
income. My goal is to combine
travelling with my job in the
future so I can have the best of
both worlds.
I find this interesting when
thinking about it in regards to
celebrities. Could this be why
some celebrities are so rude to
dropped his belongings. pg their fans when they ask for a
173 picture or autograph?

What Is Well-Being? Double Entry Journal

Citation: Seligman. "What Is Well-Being?" (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 19 Feb. 2017.

Source: Quote (Page# or Paragraph Responses

#)

I asked Judy, who knows everybody I thought the phrase was knows
who is anybody. pg 2 anybody who is anybody? Reading it
the other way threw me off.

Two weeks later, a check for over
$120,000 appeared on my desk. pg 3
Doesnt this seem a little suspicious to
him at all? Complete strangers offer to
give him an unspecified amount of
money and he doesnt even question
it?

Senia is a poster child for positive What even is positive psychology? I

psychology. pg 6 dont think this guy has explained it
yet and Im already on page 6.

Human beings, ineluctably, want I definitely agree with this statement

meaning and purpose in life. pg 8 but I also think finding your purpose
in life is difficult and that your
purpose can change multiple times.

Introverts are much less cheery than
extroverts, but if public policy is based
on maximizing happiness in the mood
sense, extroverts get a much greater
vote than introverts. pg 10
I think that a lot of people misjudge
introverts. Being an introvert myself, I
can say in my case that I can be
cheery, even if I dont look like it.
Also, I consider myself to have an
optimistic mindset.

Well-being theory has five elements, How did they come up with these five
and each of the five has these three elements? Could there be more
properties. pg 12 elements that havent been identified?

Keep in mind, however, that thought Being a person whose mind never
and feeling are usually absent during shuts off, I dont believe this is true.
the flow state. pg 13

Winning only for winnings sake can I can admit that I hate losing. But the
also be seen in the pursuit of wealth. one thing that I had more than losing is
pg 15 seeing someone cheat to win.
Other people are the best antidote to
the downs of life and the single most
reliable up. pg 16
As I converse with my students, how
do I solve the problem of saying
something that Marge will think is
funny, that wont offend Tom, and that
will persuade Derek that he is wrong
without rubbing his nose in it? pg 18
The important fact that positive
relationships always have emotional or happen to people. I hate seeing good
engagement or meaning or
accomplishment benefits does not
mean that relationships are conducted
just for the sake of receiving positive
emotion or meaning or
accomplishment. pg 19
It is well established that couples
with children have on average lower
happiness and life satisfaction than
childless couples. pg 21
There really is nothing like being able
to call your mom when you need help
or have your best friend there to cheer
you up. Having relationships with
other people is so important to well-
being.
Easy, offend Tom. I really think that
people are way too easily offended
these days and there is no way to
please everyone. I understand that
there are certain things that are very
offensive and no one should say them,
but other things arent even offensive
and people complain about it.
Sadly these sorts of relationships do
people get manipulated by others.
Now this makes no sense to me. I
absolutely love children and have
always known that I wanted kids of
my own. How would having children
make you unhappy? Maybe people are
sad they no longer only have to worry
about themselves.