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Essay / Research on the Question: Are Lottery Winners Happier
Whether winning the lottery has any effect on winners' well-being has always been a matter of debate. However, Brickman's famous 1978 research suggests that their sample of 22 lottery winners seemed no happier than the 22 controls they chose. In the positive psychology textbook, subjective well-being refers to a positive evaluation of life, both affective and cognitive, which can be interpreted by simpler expressions like positive emotions and life satisfaction. This is usually achieved when tensions (e.g. pain) are reduced, needs are met, or life goals are achieved. Lottery winners are considered to be happier after a big win due to less financial burden and better access to living facilities. This essay aims to discuss why the long-term well-being of lottery winners can be improved by discussing the link between wealth and happiness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay People buy lotteries out of curiosity, the desire to win, joy, and a sense of luck. The process of winning the lottery brings happiness for the following reasons: First, the hope of winning is the main reason why people buy the lottery. The availability heuristic apparently makes them imagine their bright future after winning and ignore the tiny possibilities of winning, which is a delightful process. Second, lottery play enhances social interaction among shoppers. Ariyabuddhiphongs (2011) found evidence from Wickwire et al. (2007): students increase social interaction by purchasing lotteries. Third, purchasing lotteries itself leads to a reduction in negative emotions; The more people spend on lotteries, the more their negative emotions decrease (Ariyabuddhiphongs, 2011, cited Bruyneel et al. 2006). After winning the lottery, their life satisfaction increases due to the increase in their wealth. Some researchers believe that the link between wealth and happiness is insignificant. For example, Kuhn et al. (2011) studied winners of the Dutch postcode lottery and found that income had almost no influence on winners' well-being. Gardner and Oswald (2001), however, after studying data from the British Household Survey, which tested over 5,000 households on their levels of stress and happiness by GHQ, found that these households were still experiencing a reduced stress level and increasing stress level. level of happiness even if it was 2 years after winning the lottery. The result seems more reliable due to the sample size. However, they cannot confirm how long this happiness lasts. Lindqvist et al. (2018) developed their own research based on the studies mentioned above. They scaled Brickman's study and came to a different conclusion. They conducted their own study and found that lottery winners' overall and financial satisfaction increases sustainably. Apouey and Clark (2014), however, indicate that mental health and physical health must be considered separately after winning the lottery. They found that lottery winners will have better mental health as they appear to smoke and drink more. This means that their mental well-being has improved while their physical well-being has deteriorated. Overall, lottery winners are happier afterwon a big win. It seems that most lottery winners have the ability to manage their lives. Although many believe that lottery winners typically quit their jobs and use their money irresponsibly until they exhaust it, there is virtually no evidence to prove this (Lindqvist et al., 2018 cited Cesarini et al., 2017). Lottery winners don't seem to quit their jobs and use their money irresponsibly. Winkelmann et al. (2018) found that lottery winners tend to think they do not deserve the win at first, which prevents them from using the money, but they will eventually adapt to the win and enjoy the prize. Regardless of their origins and the amount of money they earn, they continue to work and most of them earn more than ordinary people. Additionally, contrary to the myth that lottery winners might become addicted to lottery purchases, they are unlikely to participate in another lottery game or other types of gambling. It appears that the quality of life of most lottery winners has improved, making them happier in the long run. (Ariyabuddhiphongs, 2011, cited Eckblad and von de Lippe 1994). The happiness of lottery winners is also linked to how they spend their prize. Money makes people happy when they know how to manage it. Dunn, Gilbert, and Wilson (2011) indicate that people feel happier when they think about how to use it rather than using it recklessly. Research has shown that lottery winners remain frugal and spend their money carefully (Ariyabuddhiphongs, 2011, cited Kaplan 1987). The same research also found that lottery winners tend to be more willing to spend their prize money on their children and their churches. Dunn et al. (2008) found that using money for others can significantly improve happiness. If lottery winners use their money wisely, their happiness can be promoted. However, this trial has limitations. First, almost all selected research focuses on the welfare situation of lottery winners in a specific country, which means that researchers are unlikely to compare the situation across countries. Furthermore, almost all the research took place in regions like Western Europe, Scandinavian countries, North America, etc. These rich countries can hardly represent the whole world. People from different countries have different levels of happiness and different understandings of happiness. Further research on lottery winners in developing countries should be included. Second, none of the selected research divided lottery winners into different age groups. Further research on young lottery winners is needed. Third, whether the level of happiness and its duration is relevant to the amount of the prize is not mentioned in this essay, which requires further research. Finally, more research should be conducted on the extent to which individual differences affect a lottery winner's happiness. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, it seems that lottery winners are happier. First of all, the process of winning the lottery is full of joy. Hope (Ariyabuddhiphongs, 2011, cited Tversky and Kahneman 1974), social improvement (Ariyabuddhiphongs, 2011, cited Wickwire et al. 2007) and reduction of negative emotions when purchasing lotteries00181-009-0295-5