Article
Happinomics
IAN BULLOCK
What is the value of real-world social interactions?
The woman sitting opposite me on the #4 Powell bus is wearing a leather bomber jacket and stylized Armani glasses. Her fingers are crossed over the wooden handle of a corduroy shoulder bag. The words “PURL” and “KNIT” are tattooed across her knuckles in the same gothic lettering that Tupac Shakur used to tattoo “OUTLAW” on his forearm. I’m about to talk to someone who is, apparently, a gangster knitter.
I’m conducting an experiment designed by Canada’s top subjective well-being researcher, Dr. John Helliwell. My assignment: to record my level of happiness and then get on a bus and initiate a conversation with a stranger. When I get off the bus, I will record my happiness level again. Helliwell’s research has proven that the more positive social interactions we have, the higher our happiness levels. To test this claim, I have decided that my subjective happiness level is six out of ten. If Dr. Helliwell is correct, a conversation with the gangster knitter will raise my happiness level to seven.
From: Adbusters