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幸福があなたを傷つける4つの方法

近年、幸福感のようなポジティブな感情がいかに私たちの健康に良いかを明らかにする科学的研究が急増しています。幸福感は、重要な目標を追求し、障害を乗り越える動機を与え、ストレスの影響から私たちを守り、他の人々との絆を深め、さらには心身の不調を予防する効果もあることが分かっています。

これにより、幸福は大きなトレンドとなりました。幸福の科学はタイム誌オプラ・ウィンフリー、そしてエコノミスト誌の表紙を飾り、モチベーションスピーカー、心理療法士、そして研究機関といった小規模な産業を生み出しました。このウェブサイト「Greater Good」には、 幸福に関する約400の記事が掲載されており、子育てブログでは特に幸せな子どもを育てることについて取り上げています。

明らかに、幸福は人気がある。しかし、幸福は常に良いことなのだろうか? 気分が良すぎることが悪いことなのだろうか? 研究者たちは、これらの疑問を真剣に探求し始めたばかりだ。それには十分な理由がある。幸福の潜在的な落とし穴を認識することで、私たちは幸福をより深く理解し、より健康的でバランスの取れた生活を促進する方法を学ぶことができるからだ。

同僚のアイリス・マウスとマヤ・タミールと共に、幸福の負の側面に関する新たな科学的研究を検証し、このテーマについて独自の研究を行いました。これらの研究は、幸福が私たちにとって悪影響を及ぼす可能性のある4つの側面を明らかにしました。

1. 幸せすぎると創造性が低下し、安全性も低下します。

結局のところ、幸福は、あまりに強烈に経験すると代償を伴う。

例えば、幸福は思考を広げ、より創造的な思考を育み、問題や難問への取り組みを助けてくれるとよく​​言われます。これは、適度な幸福感を感じている場合には当てはまります。しかし、マーク・アラン・デイビスによる2008年の気分と創造性の関係に関するメタ分析によると、強烈で圧倒的な幸福感を感じている人は、もはや創造性の向上を感じられないそうです。また、躁病のような極端なケースでは、人は内なる創造力の源泉を引き出し、それを方向づける能力を失います。さらに、心理学者のバーバラ・フレドリクソンは、ポジティブな感情が多すぎると(そしてネガティブな感情が少なすぎると)、新たな課題に直面した際に柔軟性が失われることを発見しました。

過剰な幸福は、時にその恩恵を打ち消すだけでなく、心理的な害をもたらすこともあります。なぜでしょうか?その答えは、幸福の目的と機能にあるのかもしれません。私たちは幸福を経験すると、その良い気分を維持するために、人生における刺激的でポジティブなことに目を向けます。また、幸せを感じている時は、抑制が緩み、新しい可能性を探求したり、リスクを冒したりする傾向が強くなります。

この幸福の機能を極端に捉えてみましょう。周囲の良いことだけに集中し、莫大なリスクを負うという圧倒的な衝動に駆られている人を想像してみてください。そのような人は、周囲の警告サインを見落としたり、無視したりする傾向があるかもしれません。あるいは、外見上の兆候から利益が得られそうにない場合でも、大胆な飛躍やリスクの高い行動に出るかもしれません。

この「幸福オーバードライブ」状態にある人は、より危険な行動に走り、過度の飲酒、過食、乱れた性行為、薬物使用といった脅威を無視する傾向があります。心理学者ハワード・S・フリードマン氏とその同僚は1993年の研究で、親や教師から「非常に陽気」と評価された学齢期の子供は、成人期まで追跡調査を行った結果、死亡リスクが高かったことを明らかにしました。これは、彼らがよりリスクの高い行動に出たためと考えられます。

これらすべての結果は、1 つの結論を示しています。幸福は、少なすぎず、多すぎず、適度に経験すると最もよい可能性があるということです。

2. 幸福はあらゆる状況に適合するわけではない。

私たちの感情は、新たな状況、課題、そして機会に適応する助けとなります。怒りは私たちを困難を乗り越える力へと駆り立て、恐怖は脅威を察知し、闘争・逃走反応を活性化させます。悲しみは喪失を知らせます。これらの感情は、特定の状況における特定のニーズを満たすことを可能にします。

幸福についても同じことが言えます。幸福は、私たちが重要な目標を追求し、達成するのを助け、他者と協力する意欲を高めてくれます。しかし、どんな状況でも怒りや悲しみを感じたいわけではないように、どんな状況でも幸福を感じたいはずはありません。

心理学者チャールズ・カーバーが主張するように、幸福感のようなポジティブな感情は、目標が達成されているというシグナルとなり、ペースを落とし、一歩引いて、精神的に楽に過ごすことを可能にします。だからこそ、競争においては幸福感がかえって弊害となるのです。マヤ・タミールによる啓発的な研究では、競争的なコンピューターゲームをプレイする際、幸福な気分の人は怒りの気分の人よりも成績が悪かったことが明らかになりました。

私の研究室では、幼い子供が泣いている映画を見たり、 『トレインスポッティング』でユアン・マクレガーが汚らしい排泄物まみれのトイレを掘るシーンを見たりといった不適切な状況で幸福を体験した人は、躁病という感情障害を発症するリスクが高いことが分かりました。

ジョシュ・ゴスフィールド/コービス

幸福には時と場所があり、あらゆる状況に適しているわけではありません。

3. すべての種類の幸福があなたにとって良いわけではありません。

「幸福」は一つの言葉ですが、多種多様な感情を指します。ある感情は私たちをより活発にし、ある感情は私たちをゆっくりさせます。ある感情は私たちを他の人とより親密に感じさせ、ある感情は私たちをより寛大にします。

しかし、すべての種類の幸福がこれらの利点をもたらすのでしょうか?そうではないようです。実際、様々な種類の幸福をより詳細に分析すると、一部の幸福は実際には機能不全の原因となる可能性があることが示唆されています。

一例として、プライドが挙げられます。プライドは、達成感や社会的地位の向上に伴う心地よい感情です。そのため、プライドは、自分自身に意識を集中させるポジティブな感情の一種と捉えられることがよくあります。プライドは、難しい賞の獲得や昇進など、特定の状況や形態においては良い影響を与えることもあります。

しかし、シェリ・ジョンソン氏とダッチャー・ケルトナー氏との共同研究では、過剰なプライドや、実質的なメリットのないプライドを抱くと、他者への攻撃性、反社会的行動、さらには躁病などの気分障害のリスク増加といった、社会的な負の結果につながる可能性があることが分かっています。大学院生のヒラリー・デブリン氏が率いる私の研究室で進行中の研究は、プライドのような自己中心的なポジティブな感情が、実際には共感能力、つまり困難な感情的状況における他者の視点に立つ能力を阻害する可能性があるという、興味深い考えを裏付けています。

肝心なのは、ある種の幸福は、時には周囲の人々とのつながりを妨げる可能性があるということです。

4. 幸福を追い求めると、かえって不幸になるかもしれない。

驚くことではありませんが、ほとんどの人は幸せになりたいと思っています。私たちは幸せを追求するように生まれつき備わっているようで、特にアメリカ人はそれが顕著で、独立宣言にも深く刻まれています。

しかし、幸福の追求は健全なことなのでしょうか?アイリス・マウスによる画期的な研究は最近、幸福への努力は実際には善よりも害をもたらす可能性があるという直感に反する考えを裏付けました。実際、幸福を追求すればするほど、幸福を手に入れにくくなるように見えることがあります。マウスは、幸福を追求すればするほど、幸福に高い基準を設定する可能性が高くなり、その基準が満たされないと失望する傾向があることを示しています。これは特に、明るい曲を聴いたり、前向きな映画を見たりといったポジティブな状況にいる場合に当てはまります。まるで、幸福を体験しようとすればするほど、たとえ楽しい状況であっても、実際に幸福を感じることが難しくなるかのようです。

私と同僚たちは、幸福の追求がうつ病や双極性障害といった深刻な精神疾患にも関連していることを示唆するこの研究を基に研究を進めています。もしかしたら、幸福への追求が、私たちの中には狂気を招いている人もいるのかもしれません。

健康的な幸せを見つけるにはどうすればいいでしょうか?

しかし、健康的な幸福感は一体どうしたら得られるのでしょうか?これはまさに百万ドルの価値がある質問です。

まず、適度な量の幸福を感じることが重要です。幸福が少なすぎるのも、多すぎるのと同じくらい問題です。次に、幸福には時と場所があり、幸福を感じる文脈や状況に注意を払う必要があります。最後に、感情のバランスをとることが重要です。悲しみ、怒り、罪悪感といったネガティブな感情を犠牲にして幸福を感じることはできません。これらはすべて、心の健康を保つための複雑な要素であり、より現実的な視点を得るのに役立ちます。感情のバランスは非常に重要です。

最後に、正しい理由で幸福を追求し、それを体験することが重要です。幸福を追求すること自体に重点を置きすぎると、かえって自滅的になりかねません。熱心に幸福を見つけようとするのではなく、どんな感情であっても、今の自分の感情状態を受け入れるように努めるべきです。真の幸福は、他人への、そして自分自身への優しさを育むことから生まれるようです。

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me123 Jun 13, 2012

This is an interesting and controversial article. I love stuff like this. First of all I do believe that too much happiness can be unhealthy, in a sence that too much water is unhealthy. you can die from too much water but it has to be gallons at one time. I think that just like a relationship if you don't argue every once in a while then how are you going to know you truly love the person and care for them.  As human beings we need different emotions, happy, sad, frustrated, infuriating; Without these emotions we can not love because we dont know what is good and what is bad. With the persuite of happeness i think the article pined the nail on the donkey with that one, as for everything else, i think they did not word it properly.  

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MegGuest Jun 5, 2012
As I read comments that criticize the article, I generally agree: problems with definition of happiness, over-emphasis on mania, surprising and I think challengable link to excessive risk choices because "happiness" might block mindful self-care.  At least one comment mentions a general feeling of "contentment" as a description of what might be meant by "happiness", and this resonates with me.   Others might add "feeling in harmony with oneself and relationship to larger world".  Still others might add "feeling a general personal confidence about oneself in relationship to larger world."One negative aspect of "happiness" I was surprised to *not* find is mentioned, but not developed. This is a link between an individual "happiness" and reduced ability to empathize.  The possibility of such a link is worthy of thought.  The culture has been through a few decades of individuals pursuing personal development, with emphasis on "individual" and "personal" .   In general, to my obse... [View Full Comment]
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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

mr Stanford of today's daily was annoyed. ms Tippett, doesn't know even smallest provocation that made Standford behave such uncontrolled behavior. you know, I didn't do anything bad. So why frightening again. The saddest thing is that Ms can't guess why you write that but she can understand you are annoyed. Review the causes please instead using force or strangling an innocent miss. She doesn't know car accidents or anything bad happened to you but she understands that you felt pain which she didn't cause. if it is that small statements "woman spoke up"which she apologized, accept apologies.  If you would like Ms completely truss in you, you have to talk where you believe she doesn't. It is simple and if you continue spinal things, you are forcing a Ms to become Mr. Ms really feels that you have some type of pain but she didn't cause-trust her.

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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

@Jeanine, am listening please. thank you

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Happiness 1st May 29, 2012

Pursuing happiness is not "BEing happy".

You are doing a disservice to people by this article.

Emotions are a sense, like taste, touch, smell, hearing and seeing.

Emotions come in response to thoughts.

They also provide guidance from your "Higher Self".

Your Higher Self sends you a message that says "that is the right direction" when you think a thought that feels better than the last thought you thought.

When your new thought feels worse the message is "You're going the wrong way now.  Turn around."

It is as simple as this and not listening to the guidance is never the right choice.

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Noor a.f May 28, 2012

@travelmmn:disqus pursuing happiness doesn't cause the two. I posit there can be relations like my case where happiness is pursued in dread. What do you think, they need to pursue? Some are said need marriage, some doctors, some divine. What do you think, Travelmmn?  

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travelernnn May 28, 2012

The assertion that research suggests that pursuit of happiness is associated with serious mental health problems, such as depression and bipolar disorder implies that pursuing happiness causes these disorders, but I would hope researchers would look into causality. I would posit that people with depression or bipolar disorder are more likely to pursue happiness, as they feel this is what they lack, which would lead to this association, not the other way around.  

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Noor a.f May 27, 2012

@3f80abfeff1e02b26cdef8954007e98c:disqus it was not wasted time. It was to knowledge and others might benefited it.
Thank you  

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Sundisilver May 27, 2012

As I was reading this, all I could think about was how wasteful is to spend so much time THINKING about why happiness is not good instead of just going out and living your life and stumbling onto little happy moments betwixt and between the others.   And then remembering to appreciate them instead of stopping to ask yourself if this is a happy moment or is this a moment that's not really good for me.   I think too much thinking about it sorta ruins the whole experience. 

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Noor a.f May 26, 2012

today's dailygood got me right. I remember operating a store of scientific research age 17. Mine wasn't nuclear but animals esp insects. My big problem was how I could keep people away from the store of the study. I was exactly like Taylor because the word "can't" I don't believe. Hazmat team and arrest isn't known and  never liked. It is always good to make understandable because one might cleaned family's contaminated for may be another family.what is the other please?catastrophic result? that is scaring and is not known. well, Taylor is with you and feels sorry for your time. Well, Washington can't say 'get this very small to die or to live with it for being honesty and stupid awesome."
 The story interested me I had forehead and eyes pain I thought Computer caused but didn't feel while I was reading today's daily.
Thank you

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Noor a.f May 25, 2012
@Kayee, well, I give my definition to the website of last night. Didn't it publish? I wrote a lot of explanations. And happy people connect people around them. but if happy people are busy on things they don't. it is a meaningful question. @be276523f26ecbd80bf429fabaafa852:disqus  , I followed the link but mbs ended anyway it was interesting how the guy talked. I will update unlimited internet. West striving materials, they are right because I one time tried a woman near her car. she was standing and I was practicing accent I just copied from a movie. So I wanted to greet her yet she saw me before. She just looked very innocent and changed the direction. I was really embarrassed because my intention wasn't to cause inconvenience. I then thought of how such issue could be addressed. I started a work. The work then threatened my well-being and sucked my savings. I then asked myself, do I deserve? I then continued not knowing realities because money lost in good is good. This story is no... [View Full Comment]
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Pat Armitstead May 25, 2012

My belief is that joy is all of it ...the very fact that we can experience all the emotions and can be at choice as to how we respond is joyful empowerment.  I like the whole notion of leading a happy, engaged and meaningful life...irrespective of current circumstances.  My radio program presents a holistic and integrated approach to wellbing, tapping into the sugnature strengths, multiple intelligences and using the art of improv ( acting) to be in the moment.  www.planetaudio.org.nz/radi...

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Rickaung May 25, 2012

The article completely misses the point about happiness. Happiness is never achieved by pursuing it. Achieving goals and material wealth gives a temporary feeling of well being but true happiness comes from within. The West seems obsessed with material gains and success believing when they have been achieved one will be happy but when one reaches the goal we change The goal Suggest listen to TED talk by Shawn Achor VERY FUNNY AND INFORMATIVE Check out this amazing TED Talk:

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work
http://www.ted.com/talks/sh...

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Kayce May 24, 2012

I have never met a person who is constantly in a happiness mode.  Most people that I had ever, met seem to have a range of emotions.  This sounds like an article one had to write to get their name on something just to say they have something in print.  What is the writer's definition of happiness?  I would think contentment would be a very nice goal in life and would create a balanced life as well.  This could also be described as happiness.  Can a happy person really be hindered to connect with those around them, Really? 

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Noor a.f May 24, 2012

@facebook-100002669703787:disqus  we always do many things but we have to balance them. No one can be 100% good. but what I know is that the more we try to be good the more we are.

I posted a comment to http://smartliving365.com/?...
about happiness am not sure if it waits published.

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Alex Mart May 24, 2012
This article caught my eye because it follows the kind of "too much good is bad" scare tactic of a lot of healthy living articles.I really relate with the part about the pursuit of happiness. I've always been the ambitious type, people-pleaser, cheerful host. Almost my whole life, I've poured my energy into APPEARING happy to make other people around me feel good, to make other people around me feel like I had everything under control and the world on my side.Especially once I began Health Coaching as a career, I wanted people to see that I'd figured it all out and was living the dream life. Behind closed doors, though, I was super stressed, I was binge eating sweets at night, I was feeling like a failure and a fraud, and was deeply UNhappy.It took a lot of work and opening to see how I needed to take time and energy to nourish myself, relax and feed my own soul. I was giving and working way too much - trying to be a happy success - and starving myself of the stuff a happy life is made... [View Full Comment]
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Favik May 24, 2012

what else can i say. it is all a bulk of good writig and composite combination of intellectual make-up. just really likes it.

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fhet May 24, 2012

I believe it is better to BE happy than to PURSUIT happiness. Being happy means for me, being content with my life, appreciating what is around me and experience life every second as a great gift and chance. This also includes changing things that make me angry. Enjoy your lifes, everyone! It is the only one we've got.

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Kathy @ SMART LIving 365.com May 24, 2012

I agree that the blind pursuit of happiness can be problematic--that's because we often have opposing definitions of what it really means.  That's why I wrote a blog post that defines happiness in a way that makes it more sense of well-being than just a giddy emotion...if interested, here is a link to the article....  http://smartliving365.com/?...  

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Noor a.f May 24, 2012
great science. I was one of the people who were know excited all the times. I was and I like to be happy always. Well, I agree to be more happy can make one loose creativity and loose the idea of making development. As I said I overdrive happiness but if am to employ a worker I would prefer one who doesn't overdrive happiness. I understood mine 2005 I then decided to remain middle at schools and workplaces and when free or a lone I like to look what interests me or pleases me. I had 5 face books where I followed events different names. Most of my friends I meet personally and some of them I follow facebook and they don't know am following them. Because they comment and expect me to socialize with them and I can't. So I understood I might open facebook once in a month , they would think am not respecting them. I try what I want to do and if I fail I feel like I need to be nowhere. That is why I decided to live earth as a famous person or a rich. Without the two I I can't say life is wo... [View Full Comment]
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Doreen Platt (Stumblinn) May 24, 2012
This is the first time I have ever seen an absolutely ridiculous article on one of my favorite sites (Daily Good).   Just one of the many things in it that made no sense was "People in this heightened ‘happiness overdrive’ mode engage in riskier behaviors and tend to disregard threats, including excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."People who are happy do not engage in " excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."   That type of behavior is what people who are seeking a way to hide from their unhappiness engage in. I drink no alcoholic beverages, eat a healthy vegetarian diet of 1200 - 1400 calories a day (I'm 4'8"), am celibate and use no recreational drugs.  When I have a day that I am feeling down, I simply examine what I am feeling and what is going on in my life and use a variety of spiritual practices to rebalance myself,  supplemented with a healthy dose of laughter yoga as needed.   No, I ... [View Full Comment]
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Rev Nagi Mato May 24, 2012

I found this article confusing and focusing more on 'mania' then anything else. Happiness is a personal thing and most times cannot be 'measured'. I find studies like this (in my personal opinion) to be a waste of time. Any study can be made to say whatever you wish it to say, depending on the outcome you are looking for.
I do agree that to feel 'too much' happiness takes one out of balance. I am more interested in balance, not just 'happiness'.

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wbblinn May 24, 2012

This is interesting...there is a Russian writer named Vadim Zeland who wrote the "Reality Transurfing" books in which he describes the downside of creating what he calls "excessive potentials"  The book is eaoteric in every way, but so much of what he says makes sense and reading this article made me think of his books.  At Manifesting Greatness we are always walking that fine line of wanting something but always from a place of knowing it is already there (otherwise we are putting out the vibration of lack, which then is matched by the outer factual world).  It is so fascinating how this external outer world is constantly reflecting back to us our inner state of being, the question is are you working to manipulate the outer world by seeking happiness outside yourself, or is the quest one that starts from, and unfolds from, within.  The only way "happiness" could possibly be bad for us is because we've forgotten its ultimate source

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Rosie May 24, 2012

Thanks for the article, I found it really encouraging! It is good to be reminded that the acceptance of the whole of life is where we find balance.  Also, I am reminded of a church seminar I attended a few years ago which was titled 'The Pursuit of Happiness?'  The main lesson I got from that seminar was that happiness is not so much a goal, but more a side effect of a balanced and holistically healthy life, of which conciously treating other people as you would like to be treated (aka kindness!), is an integral part.  I remember thinking as a child that if everybody looked out for everybody else then everybody would be looked after - I find it hard to argue with my ten year old logic, now I just have to remember to keep my end up in the grown up world, where not everyone plays by that rule!

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deborah j barnes May 24, 2012
instead "of pursuing happinessitself"..i find that acknowledging that i am part of the greater whole oflife and at once and the same a unique being (i am) gives  me the courage to believe in my self and myreason to be “here.” This opens the path of seeking  the "genie" the gift we are all bornwith that we are wired to share with the world. This whole vision thinkingcreates a happy that thrives on the risks taken in “true direction” and opensour minds to new possibilities as we grow into our “beingness”   As this resonates with "knowing" - a thoughtemotion convergence zone nestled physically in the core - you know it when youfeel it!! Getting past our cultural boundaries is the hardest part; the oldbeliefs are always ready to pull one under. Acknowledge and look for solutions that are beyond the "down" As you bring your gift forward, your strength and happiness expand, it is so worth it!  Then be grateful…thank the universe for the dance!Just experiment, see what un... [View Full Comment]
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Sharon May 24, 2012

Maybe I'm not seeing what the definition of happiness is in this article?  I consider myself happy, most of the time.  And I equate that with being content with my life.  I trust people until I am proven wrong, I try to see good in everyone, and sometimes that is difficult.  I also try not to judge and criticize, and sometimes that's pretty difficult too!  But all in all, I like my life, and I think I'm pretty happy with it.

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Michael West May 24, 2012

This article is poorly thought out and a real disappointment. If there are different kinds of happiness, why save that for point 3? It would make more sense to identify them at the outset and discuss how they may differ and create different challenges. Really, this reads like an off-the-cuff meandering across the topic, not something to be taken seriously.