Mankind’s elusive pursuit of happiness has an interesting relationship with human physiology.The recent research from Princeton university has confirmed a concept about the relation between happiness and the economic well being .It was strange it exactly mimicked a famous physiological concept involving hemoglobin and oxygen.
Two simple questions were asked
- Can money bring happiness to life ?
- Is there a linear relationship between money and happiness ?
The answer to the first question is “yes” it can.
The answer to second looks complicated but , it is actually simple !
The relationship between money and happiness is linear initially , till it hits the flat section of the curve at 75000$ /year . (In India it may at 12,0000 lakhs/year)
Like hemoglobin , which gets saturated with oxygen at Pa o2 of 90 % ,
Beyond a particular point , however much you increase your salary , the mind can not be enriched with further happiness ! , as all the happiness receptors get saturated !
Link to Princeton university paper
Another curious phenomenon is , the more time you spent in pursuit of happiness less likely you get it !
(The following illustration is from the original Princeton paper which i got from NDTV website )
http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/the-odd-relationship-between-money-and-happiness-102103
Dr.S.Venkatesan MD 