Answer

Article Critiquing: The Pursuit of Happiness by Kluger Jeffrey

1. Identify the research method(s) used to accumulate the data which served as the basis for this article.  What were the strengths and weaknesses of the research method(s)?

            To accumulate the data used in the article, three research methods have been employed.  First is content analysis. The strengths of this method are that it: directly looks at communication through transcripts, images, and texts, and thus gets at the core facet of a phenomenon, allows for qualitative and quantitative operations, and provides valuable cultural/historical insights (Adams et al. n.p). Conversely, its weaknesses are that it is: prone to increased errors, often devoid of theoretical justification, and inherently reductive (Steffen 176).

The second method that is used is meta-analysis. The researcher combines the findings and outcomes of several scientific studies that have been done on the subject matter with the ultimate goal of increasing power and improving estimates of the size of the impact (Adams et al. n.p).  This method’s advantages are that: its results/findings can be generalized to a bigger population, the accuracy and precision of its estimates can be bettered since more data is employed, and inconsistencies of findings across reports/studies can be analyzed and quantified estimates (Hammond and Wellington 12). Contrarily, its weakness are that it is: prone to the problem of publication bias and faced with problems associated with studies not suggesting non-statistically significant impacts (Steffen 176).

The third method that is used in the article is the archival research method. The researcher has sought out and extracted evidences to their study from archival records. The advantages of this method is that the it is cost-effective as a researcher uses internet  databases to access free archives, and allows for a wider view of patterns, trends or outcomes (Stokes  and Wall n.p). Contrarily, previous research may be unreliable, or not gathered to a researcher’s standard and the data gathered may possibly be incomplete or even fail to address certain crucial concerns (Hammond and Wellington 17-18).

2. Draw three conclusions that can be deduced from the graphs or charts presented in this article.

There are three conclusions that can be arrived at from the graphs and charts that are presented in the article. First, while people tend to work hard toward realizing their individual goals, more people become happy when they achieve their individual goals as opposed to working towards the goal. According to a chart in the article, it is revealed that 59% of people are made happier when they achieve their individual goals while 35% are made happier when they are working towards realizing a goal (Kluger 7). Nonetheless, it is evident from science that savoring a journey brings happiness and joy to people even if they fail to realize the goals.

Secondly, it can be concluded that money does not make people happy, but the way money it is used does. On the state of happiness, it is indicated that Iceland has the most robust sense of community along with the closest kind of social networks globally, significant and big factors in leading a bliss life. Conversely, the U.S., with the strongest economy that is characterized by busy citizens looking for happiness through accumulation of wealth ranks in position 23 after Iceland in position 1 in happiness index (Kluger 2).

Thirdly, it can be concluded that happiness cannot be achieved at the command of an emotional whim, but achieving happiness is intricate process regardless of where one is in the world. From the chart showing the two kids, the girl is not happy and satisfied with her ice cream and appears to be envious of the boy’s. When she finally gets a bigger ice cream like the boy’s former case, she is happy yet consuming the same becomes a challenge.

3. In the study done by Lieberman and Morelli, what were the physiological and psychological processes involved in their study of empathy. 

The physiological and psychological processes involved in the study of empathy by Lieberman and Morelli are that the study participants were requested to view sad images either when they were at liberty to completely concentrate on them or when they were attempting to commit to memory an 8-digit number that had been assigned to them by Lieberman and Morelli. The researchers used fMRIS to assist them in studying their respondents’ reactions when looking at people’s sad and happy images. The researchers, in addition to using sad images of people, used the 8-digit number as sources of distractions to the study participants (Smith and Smith 85). Additionally, they also made use of people who had uncultured brains processed.

From their observation, Lieberman and Morelli found out that out of the individuals who got distracted by the 8-digit number, their empathy reactions were minimized. Conversely, volunteers who had uncultured brain processed deeply responded to the sad images. This observation brings us to a conclusion that it is possible for a distracted person to register minimized happiness. Graham explains that when one is distracted, they tend to give much concentration to the trigger(s) causing the distraction (n.p). This way, their happiness level is minimized since they have to focus on the trigger to avoid suffering an uncertainty that may eventually result into injuries. Weimann et al. also add that distractions may be good or bad: bad in the sense that the cause harm on a person or good because they enhance a person’s happiness (n.p). Either way, people tend to give attention to distraction or while they are still taking time to gauge the possible impact of a distraction, their happiness level is reduced (Graham n.p).

4. The quote by Morelli, “Being distracted reduces our empathy for others and blunts responses in the brain,” what are three implications of this quote for civic engagement?

The implication of the quote by Morelli on civil engagement is that for individuals to encourage civil involvement there is a need for being focused. This is because having distractions around can lead to the objectives of civil involvement not being realized and may be significantly difficult in making a difference as a result of minimized empathy. There possibilities that being distracted may equally minimize an individual’s own happiness (Carlsen 549). Consequently, distractions create minimized empathy which may bar people from realizing the significance of civil management as well as assisting out (Kluger 6).

Studies have shown that distractions help people cope with pains that they undergo in their everyday lives. Specifically, distractions have been used to control people’s impulses and urges (Weimann et al. n.p). Graham states that games like Tetris can assist in minimizing cravings for fatty foods because it is suspected that the cognitive demands of the game redirects people’s attention away from craving stimuli, thus minimizing painful urge of the individuals to indulge (n.p). By redirecting people’s attention, distractions have great chances in minimizing people’s empathy for other people and blunting their responses in the brain since they no more have the desire to help others because their pains towards certain conditions are abated (Weimann et al. n.p). Graham also explains that distractions can help one stay fit by suggesting that our minds are easily taken off from our and others pains of physical exercise with televisions and music, and thus can improve our endurance and performance (n.p). This way, distractions minimize our or other people’s empathy and blunt our responses in our brains. Therefore, it is crucial that when handling public concerns, there is a need to have our brains concentrated upon the agenda in question and minimize distractions that have the ability of reducing our empathy. What is more, minimizing distractions can assist in promoting civil engagement management and may lead to an increase of an individual’s happiness (Kluger 5).