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About This Quiz
The science of happiness has been booming lately, and we've found out a lot about who's happy, what makes us happy and how to become happy. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about the art of being happy.
What do psychologists consider the single most reliable indicator of happiness?
money
children
marriage
Even though 48 percent of marriages end in divorce these days, marriage is still the best gauge of happiness.
religion
leisure time
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According to the 2003 Pew Global Attitudes Project (a survey of 38,000 men and women in 44 countries), who's happier -- men or women?
men
women
The survey showed that women had greater overall happiness, especially in Japan, Pakistan and Argentina.
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Who becomes happier as they age: men or women?
men
Sorry, ladies -- that happiness apparently isn't going to last. A study by the Journal of Happiness Studies found that men get happier as they get older and women get unhappier.
women
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What's the branch of psychology that studies what makes people happy?
contentment studies
positive psychology
Positive psychology studies various aspects of happiness -- like the difference between momentary elation and enduring happiness.
satisfaction psychology
well-being studies
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The World Map of Happiness and the World Values Survey measures happiness by asking questions about social connections, career satisfaction and political and economic stability. According to this survey, what's the happiest country in the world?
Costa Rica
Australia
South Africa
Norway
Switzerland
Latvia
Denmark
Denmark wins out in this study, in which people were quizzed on their happiness levels.
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The Happy Planet Index analyzes a country's carbon footprint in relation to its population's happiness and life expectancy. According to the HPI, what's the happiest country in the world?
Mauritius
Samoa
Finland
New Zealand
Belize
Vanuatu
The tiny Pacific island of Vanuatu wins, which shows that big carbon footprints don't necessarily equal big happiness.
Taiwan
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Exercise can make you happy by lowering levels of this hormone, which is associated with stress.
cortisol
Exercise lowers cortisol levels, which can help you de-stress and, hopefully, make you feel a little happier.
testosterone
progesterone
prolactin
insulin
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Exercise can also increase happiness by causing your body to release these mood-boosting chemicals.
lipids
endorphins
Endorphins it is. If you're looking for an endorphin rush, you're most likely to get one after intense aerobic activity.
opioids
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In a nutshell, what does the Easterlin Paradox say about rich people?
They're happier than poor people.
In the 1970s, Economist Richard Easterlin found that poor people became happier with increased income. However, it was true only up to a point.
They're more unhappy than poor people.
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After this certain point, what did Easterlin find made people happier than individual income?
their children
their income compared to their peers
After individual income had increased to a certain level, happiness became tied to relative income -- their income as compared to that of their peers.
the desire for future increased income
the respect of their peers
education
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According to one study, happy people are surprisingly prone to what kind of behavior?
negative
violent
prejudicial
A 2004 study found that happy people tended to make prejudicial evaluations of other people. No one's sure exactly why, but it could be because happier people aren't motivated to think analytically and so naturally resort to stereotypes.
self-deprecating
rude
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Which founding document promises "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" to the American people?
Constitution
the Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson penned this famous phrase in the Declaration of Independence.
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According to a brief roundup by the New York Times of happiness studies, marriage makes people happy but _____ doesn't.
being in love
having children
Hmm…we were surprised by this one, too -- but according to the studies, having children does not increase a person's happiness.
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What two groups in the United States have reported lower levels of happiness in recent decades?
women and African-Americans
Even though women and African-Americans have made great social strides in recent decades, they've apparently been becoming unhappier.
recent immigrants and married people
middle-aged men and frequent exercisers
nursing-home residents and wealthy bankers
single men and pre-schoolers
single mothers and Hispanics
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Happy music stimulates our brain to release this chemical, the same one released by chocolate and sex.
dopamine
Eating chocolate, having sex and hearing happy music all cause the release of dopamine.
serotonin
norepinephrine
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According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which was the happiest state in 2009?
Oklahoma
Virginia
Hawaii
Surprise, surprise -- the tropical paradise of Hawaii is the happiest state in the country.
Ohio
Wyoming
California
Alaska
Utah
Florida
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What was the only state on the East Coast listed in the top 10 of the Well-Being Index in 2009?
Rhode Island
Georgia
New Hampshire
South Carolina
Vermont
Vermont was the sole representative of the East -- the rest of the top 10 were in the West and Midwest.
New Jersey
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Hospitalized children are often made happiest by this kind of therapy.
music
Music therapy has been shown to be the most effective type for sick kids. It's also very helpful in patients with depression.
play
puzzle
outdoor
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True or false: Studies have shown that pets make people happier.
true
Most people don't need scientific research to tell them this, but it's true: Study after study has found that pets make us happy.
FALSE
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About how many years longer can happy people be expected to live than unhappy people?
5
10
15
20
According to a study published in "The Gerontologist," happy men lived 16 years longer and happy women lived 23 years longer than their unhappy counterparts.
25
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You Got:
/20
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