Comments on: Your Government Wants You to be Happy http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/05/16/your-government-wants-you-to-be-happy/ Find out how psychology can be practical, useful, and beneficial to you Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:03:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Stu http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/05/16/your-government-wants-you-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Stu Sat, 17 May 2008 18:14:45 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=27#comment-31 Sorry for not defining it better. GWB is measured based on how high your levels of these are: positive well-being, self-control, vitality, and general health; and how low your levels of these are: anxiety and depression. That's not really a great definition either but you can see it's just a very general measurement of mostly mental health (or well-being), with a little physical health thrown in there. I think government policy could play a big part in orchestrating a rise in GWB. Take New Urbanism for instance. (New Urbanism is a backlash against suburbs. It promotes neighborhoods where people can work, live, and do most average daily things within walking distance) New Urbanism promotes health (walking) and close knit neighborhoods where you would have more meaningful relationships with the people who live around you. Sorry for not defining it better. GWB is measured based on how high your levels of these are: positive well-being, self-control, vitality, and general health; and how low your levels of these are: anxiety and depression.

That’s not really a great definition either but you can see it’s just a very general measurement of mostly mental health (or well-being), with a little physical health thrown in there.

I think government policy could play a big part in orchestrating a rise in GWB. Take New Urbanism for instance. (New Urbanism is a backlash against suburbs. It promotes neighborhoods where people can work, live, and do most average daily things within walking distance) New Urbanism promotes health (walking) and close knit neighborhoods where you would have more meaningful relationships with the people who live around you.

]]> By: FekketCantenel http://www.improvedlives.com/2008/05/16/your-government-wants-you-to-be-happy/comment-page-1/#comment-30 FekketCantenel Sat, 17 May 2008 15:54:02 +0000 http://www.improvedlives.com/?p=27#comment-30 There's a lot of candidates I wouldn't vote for even if it was proven that they were Jesus' second cousin. That said, as a Ron Paul supporter, I'm wondering if he's addressed similar subjects. I'll have to look into this. The thing is, though: I think the sort of change Cameron was talking about can't be orchestrated politically. It could be <i>encouraged</i> by the government (though the media (both entertainment and news) would have a lot more sway than any political powers), but I think that it ultimately comes down to society. Make your little corner happy and healthy. The biggest problem I'm having, Stu, is that I don't think the GWB is defined specifically here. "Candidates talk a lot about making people’s lives better . . ." Wouldn't that contribute to the GWB? There’s a lot of candidates I wouldn’t vote for even if it was proven that they were Jesus’ second cousin. That said, as a Ron Paul supporter, I’m wondering if he’s addressed similar subjects. I’ll have to look into this.

The thing is, though: I think the sort of change Cameron was talking about can’t be orchestrated politically. It could be encouraged by the government (though the media (both entertainment and news) would have a lot more sway than any political powers), but I think that it ultimately comes down to society. Make your little corner happy and healthy.

The biggest problem I’m having, Stu, is that I don’t think the GWB is defined specifically here. “Candidates talk a lot about making people’s lives better . . .” Wouldn’t that contribute to the GWB?

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