Naughty... and nice
Wrong to think a happy life can only be achieved through restraint, study says
FORGET self-control – giving in to temptation every now and again can lead to a happier life, according to scientists.
They say it is wrong to think that a happy life is only achieved through self-restraint in order to stay healthy or make money.
And momentary pleasure is good for you – even if it does not achieve anything in the long term.
This is because the capacity to experience pleasure is a sign of leading a satisfied and happy life overall, the Swiss psychologists behind the study said.
Such pleasures can be having a good meal or a night in front of the TV – neither of which is necessarily going to mean living longer or becoming richer but can mean being happier.
Psychologist Katharina Bernecker, from the University of Zurich, said: ‘It’s time for a rethink. Of course self-control is important but research on selfregulation should pay just as much attention to hedonism or short-term pleasure.’
The researchers gave volunteers a psychological questionnaire to test how they respond to the temptations of hedonism, whether this distracts them from their long-term goals and how it impacts their well-being.
The study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin journal, found that some people who set goals, such as to lose weight, would find it hard to switch off when relaxing. Their sense of well-being was lower than those who managed to enjoy themselves without thinking about what they should be doing instead. This suggests that those who can enjoy life’s little pleasures are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety because they can have fun without worrying about the range of consequences.
The solution is to achieve a balance between having long-term goals and working towards them but being able to not feel guilty when taking time out to indulge.
Ms Bernecker added: ‘The pursuit of hedonistic and longterm goals needn’t be in conflict with one another. Both are important and can complement each other in achieving well-being and good health. It is important to find the right balance.’
‘It is important to find right balance’