Were we happier when we lived simpler lives?

- Has all the social advancement made us happier or given us more problems?

This is a question worthy of pondering: Were we happier then, when life was simple, than now, when we have all the social advancements at our service?

“Simple” certainly does not describe our lives today.

We as intelligent beings continuously make efforts to advance our society - in knowledge, technologies, applications of both, industrial revolutions, skyscrapers, worldwide instant connections, social theories, political systems….

So today, we have a rather advanced human society.

At the same time, our lives have also become rather complex!

Life is no longer just about gathering enough food to eat during the day and having a shelter to stay safe during the night.

Far from that as we all know it.

But, have all the advancements in made us happier?

It would be hard to compare our pre-historical ancestors’ happiness with that of ours’ today with any accuracy, for lack of historic data.

From available research, however, we could at least go back decades, say, from mid-last century, when life was quite a bit simpler, to early this century.

The simplicity of life has much changed during this period, just by the facts that the average income multiplied and technologies much developed.

How did happiness change alongside with such advancements?

As one example, the graph below shows that the inflation-adjusted income in the US was more than tripled between 1950 and 2000.

Happiness during the same period of time? Staying about the same!

(Source: UN Inclusive Wealth report, 2012)

Data from many other countries revealed similar results, repeatedly showing that our happiness levels as a whole have hardly changed, despite that income has been increased multiple times in recent history.

So according to these data, it seems we were not happier, nor unhappier, when living much less prosperous/less advanced, also much simpler, lives many decades ago.

That is not to say that all the advancements have not given us convenience or pleasures, nor does it say that they have not produced aversive effects on our happiness, such as the stress that comes with a more complex modern life.

It is more likely that the advancements have given us both.

So, the opposite effects might have cancelled each other out, making the “net” result as no change in terms of happiness.

Does that mean that there had been no point to make any advancements?

I think it means we need to make better choices in using the advancements.

Too many of us have got into the race toward the most advanced lifestyle - larger houses, fancier cars, other luxurious….

Along the way we have also taken on all the related stress and problems.

However, we each individual can make choices and take actions to overcome these aversive effects, while selectively enjoying the advancements that are conducive to our happiness.

Using house size as the example.

Income as well as technology advancements have led to much larger average house size in the US.

At mid last century, it was about 200 square feet/person on average.

By early this century, it had reached nearly 1000 square feet/person and rising.

Note that this much outpaced the average income increase shown above.

These large houses are also equipped with all sorts of modern comforts.

However, modernly equipped large house comes with heavy financial burden, many managing tasks, and other stress.

To avoid such financial burden and managing stress, etc., you may choose not to join in the societal-wide house-size “competition”.

You may instead choose to live in a small house just sufficient for your family.

You can still enjoy just enough of the modern comforts (AC, essential appliances, etc.) that contribute to your well-being.

That would be plenty of benefits without too heavy a financial burden, extra tasks, and other added stress.

These choices can make the overall “net result” a positive one for using modern advancements.

The point is, without the advancements, there would be no choice; with the advancements, it is up to you to choose how to use them to increase your happiness, and not to allow the aversive effects to take away your happiness.

So, being happy living in an advanced society requires more than before for an individual to make wise choices and take smart actions.

This involves understanding:

• What truly makes you happy

• What choices/actions help you achieve it

• What pitfalls to avoid/overcome to not let them hinder your happiness.

Helping people on all these, and eventually contributing to building a happier society, are exactly the main purposes of this Substack.

If this interests you, please subscribe and join the exploration!