On Happiness and Altruism
I was so busy trying to get beyond Seligman’s torture of dogs and rats that I neglected to mention something important yesterday.
Seligman is a self-proclaimed pessimist, which in a way makes the following easy to understand:
"A corollary of the enmeshment with others that happy people have is their altruism. Before I saw the data, I thought that unhappy people–identifying with the suffering that they know so well–would be more altruistic" (43).
I would have gone in the completely opposite direction. But that’s me, and I’m no expert. He continues:
"So I was taken aback when the findings on mood and helping others without exception revealed that happy people were more likely to demonstrate that trait. In the laboratory, children and adults who are made happy display more empathy and are willing to donate more money to others in need. When we are happy, we are less self-focused, we like others more, and we want to share our good fortune even with strangers. When we are down, though, we become distrustful, turn inward, and focus defensively on our own needs. Looking out for number one is more characteristic of sadness than of well-being " (43).
Based on his reasoning, we vegans/animal rights activists should be mighty happy people. And it’s that happiness that enables us to so willingly and frequently help others.
What do you think about that?
PS: I saw Religulous last night. No surprises, but still pretty funny. The audience laughed so loudly a handful of times that I couldn’t hear anything!
I've heard about research like this before–linking happiness and altruism. However, I think this applies more to conspecifics (other human beings). Although many of the vegans know are very charitable and social justice oriented, a good proportion of them are up-tight and/or depressed, not to mention misanthropic.
At the same time, if vegans were simply naysayers with no hope, they wouldn't even fathom trying to make a difference. So,obviously, there must be a degree of optimism. It would be very fascinating to see some hard data on vegan demographics to say the least.
I've met a good few pessimists in the animal advocacy community in my time. Particularly in terms of the likelihood of meaningful change and on human nature. This tends to be why most people argue against vivisection from the scientific anti-vivisection pov – emphasising the human damage caused by animal experimentation.
http://human-nonhuman.blogspot.com/2008/10/pie-in-sky-v-poverty-of-ambition.html
RY
It suggests to me that since I am a pessimist and have suffered from depression, I am probably a bad (totally selfish) person. Well, I reject that, and while some people might infer it it's not a necessary conclusion. Just saying that it feels like a part of that argument that I should shut up and be cheerful because God, I am so annoying with my existing and having problems with things and it's so inconsiderate of me to be negatively affected by things.
But I can see how I am more inclined to give my seat to little old ladies on the bus when I am in a relatively good mood. On the other hand, that might only mean that being so tired or weighed down that I feel I legitimately need the seat is negatively correlated with feeling particularly cheerful. On the other hand, it also applies to, say, monetary donations; but I think the difference is that I am cheerful when my plate is relatively clear of immediate problems, and that leaves me free to deal with things like figuring out how to send in donations to charities I actually want to donate to.
I think there's a relationship. For me, I tend to be more productive, less depressed, and more charitable all at the same time. And vice versa: I tend to be less productive, more depressed, and less charitable all at the same time. Whether the correlation is causation or not, I'm not sure, but there's certainly a relationship, in my experience.
My mom always says she's altruistic for selfish reasons. She says it makes her feel good to do good for others. I believe her. I'm not sure everyone feels the same way, but for some of us, it's true.
I'm happiest when I'm problem solving. I like "deep thought" and serious discussion. I guess I'm rather intense to be around. I have no vegan "friends" either. And most social interaction is on a superficial level… I'm "okay" with being friendly and participate in whatever "etiquette" dictates. I dislike small talk though… Because in "small talk" there's always a "hold-back". The focus seems to be more on what "can't" or "won't" be talked about… about animals. Nothing too controversial, too complex, or too true… about animals. This is when I'm least happy… about people.
Yes, I do worry about the world… sometimes things seem ominous and inevitable — Humans may get their due if reality warrants… but what of the animals(?)…
And I don't know that any true "altruism" exists… Whenever you do something for a cause you believe in… it always feels empowering. And in this way, no one working for Animal Rights should ever feel pessimistic – we are doing the right thing.
Yes, today… I'm optimistic. I did a "vegan" search on Craigs list, and in my area I found this ad: "Vegan/Vegetarian couple seeks platonic relationship with like…", This makes me (and my husband) very "happy". Strangely it's like finding one of your own "species"… Another "Animal Person". 🙂
Thanks for writing such a well rounded intelegent blog which I look forward to reading and learning more of. I had a discussion today with my boyfriend about all I do for Animal Rights. It came up because he showed me samples of leather for his new chairs. I was dumb founded since he has become vegetarian in the last 3 months by watching what I eat and hearing the hard cold facts(he still wont watch Meet your Meat}about animal suffering. He said,"Can't you just live and let live? This is going to drive you in sane! Or worse to drink. Mind you I am now 5 years sober. Have written a fourth step. What I do for the animals keeps me sober.What I was born to do with this cause came to fruition after I cleanded up the wreckedge of my past.It gives me purpose to help the suffering animals. I don't think of myself and my ego when I help animals. This is selfish in a good way. In AA what keeps people sober is service work and sponsership for the good of sobriety.I only wish that I could have started this cause earlier in life because it is what finaly makes me happy even if it means letting go of the sadness it can provoke.