In The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After 50, Jonathan Rauch documents the U-shaped curve of contentment across the lifespan following adolescence. As summarized by writer Heidi Wachter, “This includes a period of natural excitement and optimism in young adulthood; a time of consolidation and achievement coupled with a gradual sense of disappointment and declining optimism in the middle years; a recalibration and upturn of life satisfaction in middle age; and happiness in late adulthood.” The curve contextualizes the so-called “mid-life crisis” by observing a gradual decline of happiness from around the age of 18 until the 40s, when the lowest ratings of happiness are reported. This nadir of life satisfaction persists until the early 50s when a sharp rise in contentment occurs, before falling once again at about age 75.

Although the happiness curve has been found among humans and even other species (including chimpanzees and orangutans), factors such as culture, economic context, and different ways “happiness” is operationalized (e.g., evaluative happiness based on objective goals such as wealth may be quite different from how happy a person actually feels) challenge the universality of the curve. Nevertheless, Rauch observes interesting dynamics of the aging process inherent in the happiness curve, including goals changing across the lifespan and that what seemed to be motivating in early adulthood diminishes over time and is ultimately supplanted. He further emphasizes the aging adult’s shift toward positivity and wisdom.

In the next in-person meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, April 1, 2023 (10:15 to 11:30 AM), we will explore the happiness curve and its implications. We will consider related concepts including the paradox of the hedonic treadmill; the ways in which life stress and crises are moderated by attitudes emerging in later adulthood; and varying notions of subjective well-being (including “evaluative,” “hedonic” and existential well-being).

*Registration Directions: If you would like to attend the next in-person meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, April 1, 2023, 10:15 AM to 11:30 AM, please RSVP to me at 949-338-4388 or jt@jamestobinphd.com no later than Thursday, March 30, 2023. The seminar will be held at 15615 Alton Parkway, Suite 450, in Irvine, CA.  The fee is $30.00 and informed consent for participation must be completed prior to the seminar. Please note that the Men’s Group Seminar is psychoeducational in nature, not therapeutic, and does not constitute psychotherapy or counseling.