It's good that you have attacked about. I'll advised you to discuss your research with a focus on the Social contagion research in marketing. I am sure that we can find and demonstrate that social media and virtual Communities are also a source of contagion for emotions

Hi, Shirley:

Social Media, Happiness, Purchasing...is really wonderful---perhaps if we add 'Giving' to such an interesting combination!  Few years ago, I wrote (Nadeem, 2009) an article on a similar topic on what makes some of us happy or will make some of us happy as part of consumerism---"purchasing equals happiness equals giving'.Please take a look at it!

Moreover, as we continue to come under undeniable influence of social media in almost every aspect of our lives---we have to say that it is here to stay (again perhaps as part of consumerism)!  A recent research study (Robinson and Martin, 2008) highlighted that---we see that little attention in the quality-of-life literature has been paid to data on the daily activity patterns of happy and less happy people!

Using ratings-scale information from time-diary studies, the authors examined the hypothesis that people who describe themselves as happier engage in certain activities (in current times---social media---perhaps?) more than those who describe themselves as less happy.

Based on 34 years of data collected by the General Social Survey (GSS) on social activities and media usage, the authors found that people who are happy report being more active in most social activities, in religion and in newspaper reading. On the other hand, happier people report less time watching television, a relation that holds after control for education, marital status and other predictors of happiness (in current times---social media---perhaps?)!

• Nadeem, M. (2009). Purchasing Equals Happiness Equals Giving: How do you plan to spend your weekend? The Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge, Vol. 15, No. 1, September 2009.
• Robinson, J., & Martin, S. (2008). What Do Happy People Do?. Social Indicators Research, 89(3), 565-571.

Hope this helps!

Nadeem

Thank you Tarek & Nadeem for your comments. I will check out the articles you have suggested. I have also read that research has shown that when people focus on the present moment, they are in general happier than those who reflect on the past.

I suggest taking a look at Inglehart's work on the post-materialist society. It may not be so new as one first might think - societies frequently turn to symbolic consumables (consider the "freedom" of an insurance policy or even a tampon) once they have their material needs fulfilled. It doesn't always end well for the societies that focus so much on their symbolic well-being that they forget their long-run material needs.

Ryan

This is so helpful thank you - I have been trying to understand why happiness has become such a recent focus in western society and its links with well being. Inglehart's work provides a good sociological framework to start with.

regards Shirley 

Ms. Harris:

This has gotten a good deal of attention in recent days because, it appears, there really is something here.  Some of the more important work in the Science of Happiness dates back to the 1970s (Brickman and Campbell), but much of it is quite new.  I'd have a look, in particular, at the "set-point theory of happiness."  The work of Lykken and Tellegen conclude that happiness is a stochastic phenomenon. And the work of Bruni and Porta examines the relationship of happiness to money and economic condition.  You should be encouraged if you'd like to begin research in this area, as a number of very interesting, readily accessible questions remain unanswered.  Begin your reading in JPSP and Psychological Science.  Best wishes.