Kyoto University Researcher Explains The Paradox Of Pursuing Happiness

Researcher Kuan-Ju Huang explains why pursuing happiness may not always lead to fulfillment.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | September 20, 2024

A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that endorsing happiness goals doesn't necessarily result in long-term improvements in life satisfaction—and that it can have mixed emotional consequences.

I recently spoke with lead author Kuan-Ju Huang, a researcher from Kyoto University, about the impact of constantly pursuing happiness. Here is a summary of our conversation.

Your study suggests that valuing happiness can have both positive and negative effects on well-being. Can you explain why pursuing happiness might sometimes backfire?

Wanting to be happy can sometimes backfire because it may set a high bar for the happiness we feel we should achieve. The more we focus on being happy, the more likely we are to feel disappointed or anxious if we don't meet that expectation.

The paradox of valuing happiness is that constantly checking in with ourselves by asking, "Am I happy enough?" can lead to emotional outcomes that directly undermine the goal of being happy.

How does the way we approach happiness goals influence our overall well-being? What strategies can lead to more positive outcomes?

Happiness is an abstract idea that should be the end, not the means. A better approach is focusing on specific activities that make you feel good. Studies have shown that prioritizing positive events in everyday decisions can lead to better outcomes.

Additionally, some activities have been proven to be beneficial to our well-being, such as spending time with loved ones, exercising or engaging with nature.

You mentioned that happiness concerns can actually lower well-being. What does it mean to be 'too concerned' about happiness, and how can people avoid falling into this trap?

In the literature, we distinguish between two aspects of valuing happiness: aspiring to be happy and being concerned about happiness. Aspiring to be happy is about how much you want to be happy, and this does not have a consistent effect on well-being.

One reason why aspiring to be happy does not always lead to happiness may be related to how happiness is conceptualized. The pursuit of happiness can be either a personal or a relational pursuit. There are findings that suggest socially engaged pursuits of happiness are more effective.

Interestingly, in cultures where happiness is understood as being more interdependent with others, such as in Japan, valuing happiness seems to have a more positive effect on well-being.

Also, considering happiness as a personal pursuit or achievement carries the risk that, if you fail to attain it, it may feel like a personal failure. So, the null or inconsistent finding may be related to the nature of the happiness we want.

On the other hand, being concerned about happiness—or how much you monitor and evaluate it—can have a negative effect. For example, some people may feel like they could have been happier in a particular situation.

While it is natural to track our progress toward a goal (e.g., happiness), we sometimes need to be less judgmental about how much happiness we have achieved.

In one study, a group of participants read an essay about the importance of happiness, while the control group read a neutral essay. Both groups then watched a happy clip. Those who read the essay on valuing happiness experienced less positive affect compared to the control group.

Simply having the idea that happiness is important in mind seems to hinder your ability to enjoy positive events. It is thus possible that by not focusing on happiness goals, you may be more likely to engage in activities that benefit your well-being fully.

Could you share some practical tips on how people can pursue happiness in their daily lives without it becoming self-defeating?

If being happy starts to feel like a burden, trying to disengage from the goal of happiness may actually make you more likely to achieve it. Focus on things that make you feel comfortable and good about yourself in the moment.

Consider every activity we engage in as a goal in itself, not just a means to boost happiness. By viewing happiness as a shared social experience rather than an individual achievement or failure, we may find greater fulfillment and connection in our daily lives.