Watch this video about how we could possibly measure happiness around the world. While you are watching, list the points made about how we could measure happiness and consider if there are other options.
How To Measure Happiness
A National Geographic look at how we might measure happiness around the world.
How To Measure Happiness
A National Geographic look at how we might measure happiness around the world.
Video Transcript
Can you measure happiness? It's not an easy task, but every year the Gallup World Poll tries to estimate how happy people are in 140 countries around the world. But where do they even start? Frequency of smiley face emojis? Number of hugs given per day? We actually start by asking a few simple questions. First, researchers ask people to rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10.
zero being the pits and ten being the happiest possible. If you rate your life on a seven or higher, you're considered to be thriving. Way to go! What stands out when you dig deeper into these poll results? One thing is clear, different cultures have different ideas of what it means to thrive. For example, Latin Americans tend to place an especially high value on positive emotions, including laughter, and consistently score highest in the daily positive experiences.
So it's no surprise that in Costa Rica, healthy and green living means happiness. Investments in healthcare, education, sustainability, and biodiversity have helped Costa Ricans flourish. The beautiful natural landscape also leads to a limited stress lifestyle. Across the pond, Danes, ranked among the happiest countries in the poll, believe they have a right to health care, education, and a financial safety net. At least half of Danes are thriving when it comes to financial well-being and community engagement.
Meanwhile, Singapore is rooted in traditional Asian values of harmony, respect, and hard work. That's why over the last decade it has led Southeast Asia in happiness and overall satisfaction with life. So how can we increase happiness? Well, the data just isn't there yet. More research is needed to truly understand what makes people feel good. Across cultures, we know that physical health and vitality are the most important metrics for well-being.
But in the short term, a good place to start is trying to find happiness in everyday life. Go to a park with a friend, play with a puppy, find a hobby. Mostly, just stay healthy and discover what's important to you. So how do you measure happiness? And what makes you happy?
Driving Questions
Look at the three Driving Questions below and in your groups, decide which question you would like to answer. Each group can answer the same question or each group can answer different questions. The choice is yours!
- How can we create more happiness in our community?
- What skills should we, as young people, learn before graduating from high school?
- How can we show others the best of our world?
Thinking Routine: Compass Points
What will your group do or make to answer your Driving Question? Follow the prompts below to draw or write out some ideas with your group. Remember to download or save your work for future use!
Think about your group’s question and how you might want to answer the problem. Contemplate all the different feelings this topic might evoke and how they could be used to answer your question. The aim of this exercise is to get you thinking and working together to create ideas. Everything is possible here!
E = Excited: What excites you about this idea or question? What’s the upside?
W = Worrisome: What do you find worrisome about this idea or question? What’s the downside?
N = Need to Know: What else do you need to know or find out about this idea or question? What additional information would help you to evaluate things?
S = Stance or Suggestion for Moving Forward: What is your current stance or opinion on the idea or question? How might you move forward in your evaluation of this idea or question?
Need To Knows
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