States Of Happiness

by lisa, Jul 13, 2009, at 10:05am

Dmitriy T.M. sent me to an excellent article about within and between state migration, political party, and the future of politics… which inspired me to write a post about cows, California, and happiness.

Sociologists have begun to look at “nation-branding” or efforts by nations to market themselves as tourist and migration destinations. I grew up in and currently reside in California, so I’m more aware of California’s efforts to brand itself. Ah, the Golden State, where you can ski and sunbathe in the same day. It’s sunny year-round and it never rains. People are beautiful, relaxed, and progressive. California is where dreams are made: movie stars and theme parks are a dime a dozen. Everyone has money. California must be the happiest place on earth:

In light of California’s efforts to brand itself, I chuckled when I saw this map revealing people’s happiness with their place of residence by state:

happy-states-0709-lg-84096147

I don’t think California is the only surprise on this list.

Residents of other states, how does the social construction of your own state compare with this data?

Comments

laura 11:37 am on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

Studies/graphics like these are always interesting to look at, particularly when we consider those states that tend to be more connected with consumer culture. However, happiness studies always make me a little suspicious, particularly because happiness is a very difficult variable to measure and very apt to change. Perhaps Louisiana had some terribly hot weather the week the survey was done there, while New Hampshire was enjoying a beautiful stretch of moderate temperatures. This would certainly make a difference on levels of happiness. I guess my point is this: interesting to look at, but don’t look too hard.
kate h 11:41 am on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I live in Utah, and I call bogus on the map. The Provo valley is called Happy Valley sarcastically, since it has a very high concentration of antidepressant prescriptions.
rachel 11:49 am on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

there’s only a 12% difference in the least happy and happiest states.
Kelly 11:55 am on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

‘Having lived in ‘Sunny Florida’ (the land of pristine beaches, endless groves or oranges, Disney adventures, ‘latin flair,’ Jimmy Buffet, manatees, perfect weather, palm trees, and the Space Shuttle) for most of my life, I find the satisfaction map very telling.

My actual experience with my home state is very different from the advertising and involves overdeveloped housing projects, endless pine farms, an incredible number of wealthy nursing home communities, hurricanes, murky water, thunderstorms during most summer afternoons, rampant racism, incredibly high home insurance rates (because of the hurricanes), tornadoes, flooding, and pathetic public school systems.

However, I do really enjoy living here for other reasons, like the wildlife I see almost every day (which is rapidly disappearing because of overdevelopment)
Duran 12:16 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

No kidding. With a 78% approval rating, even the most “unhappy” state is doing pretty damn well.
Duran 12:17 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

You might also think about whether relative happiness and unhappiness is because of the branding.

Either way, another pointless post from lisa.
Michelle F. 12:43 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

It might be interesting to compare whatever methodology/questions were used here to the testing done by Daniel Kahneman and others in the field of behavioral psychology/behavioral economics. An oft-cited study found that there was no significant difference in reported happiness of Midwestern people and Californian people, though when asked to predict happiness in each location, people thought they would be happier in CA. The conclusion was that people erroneously assume that Californians are happier because when imagining California we overestimate the impact of the nice weather, etc. on happiness. (Schkade and Kahneman, 1998). Dan Gilbert has also done compelling research on happiness and has a couple of excellent talks on TED.com.
Patrick 1:20 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

My theory is that it’s hard to be happy and be liberal/progressive, because there’s a lot of things out there that one should rightfully be angry about.
AmandaLP 1:41 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I just moved to New York City, so happiness surveys are interesting to me from that perspective.

A few recent articles talked about how New Yorkers are not happy, but most could not imagine living anywhere else. It also suggests that the people who live in New York City do not have a personality type that is conducive to happiness. (See research on chronic happiness levels for more information.)
Heidi 1:42 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I think it also has to do with whether you are from that area/your family goes back generations in that area. I know people in my state that are only here because of a job opportunity their ‘otherly born’ parents took and can’t wait to move. I also know people who can’t imagine living anywhere else and rarely stray from the same neighborhood (no lie!) that their extended family lives in.

In combination with the above, you also have to factor in whether someone is predisposed (genetically) to certain issues: sun sensitivity, seasonal affective disorder, lactose intolerance. That influences how happy you are currently and affects where you may move to. I can’t imagine living in Wisconsin, for example, but neither Texas nor Connecticut. I would be grossly unhappy if I had to take this survey while living in those places.
SarahMC 1:43 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

Agreed, Patrick.
Heidi 1:45 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

Ooops, forgot, a better breakdown by area would be good for the map too. Most of LA county residents are not from there, same with NYC, but people in Sacramento or Rochester tend to be from there and stay there.

I guess what I’m trying to say is relocation for better or worse impacts happiness.
Sabriel 2:07 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I’m curious how population density figures in to the happiness ratings for each of the states.
Liz 2:24 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I’m one of many LA country residents from somewhere else. When I was growing up in Ohio, my father’s side of the family always talked about how Ohio was lame and everything was just better in California–weather, jobs, people, etc. As a kid, I was happy to live in Ohio, had great friends, loved the summers, and had fun in the winter, but I was intrigued by this wonderful place out West. My parents believed in the American Dream and the pursuit of “happiness” and CA had the best spin on that. So eventually we all migrated out here in search of “happiness.”

And my happiness levels have fluctuated. When I had good work, I was happy in CA. But when the recession hit and I lost my job, I’ve been depressed. I was thinking about going back to Ohio, but doesn’t look to promising here on the map. Well, we’ll see. If I can find good work again, that will help.

Since I’ve had a lot of time, I’ve thought a lot about “happiness” and now I know it has more to do with your inner values, the quality of your relationships, and have a purpose to your life than anything on the outside. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize these things but such was the power of the American Dream and branding on my family and the values they shaped around it–that happiness was connected to money, status, possessions, a big house with the right zip code.

CA is overrated. It has some good aspects but I think my family fell too hard for its branding. And sometimes, oh sometimes, I wish I had stayed in Ohio.
Rachel_in_WY 2:56 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I grew up in Seattle, lived in So Cal for 8 years, and then moved to Wyoming. Yes, Wyoming. And I can totally understand why it’s one of the “red” states on this map, although I will say that Laramie is waaay better than other parts of the state I’ve visited. And being in a college town always makes life more tolerable. For me, anyway.

I would have thought Washington and Oregon would contain more satisfied people.
Cedar 3:56 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I’m curious as to the question that was ask. “Satisfaction with place of residency” isn’t the same thing as happiness. Although I’d consider myself more or less “happy” in Seattle, I am pretty unsatisfied with the city itself–nothing major, but local political things, housing prices, transportation issues, etc etc that make me wish sometimes that I lived somewhere else.
Tintin LaChance 5:37 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

As a Wisconsin resident, may I say that I hate those happy cows ads? The number of family-owned farms in that state as opposed to Wisconsin (last I heard, we’re winning) says plenty to me as far as who has the happier cows. At least ours aren’t all on big company farms. Not that all theirs are, but those ads annoy me to the point of having to mute the damned things, they’re so smug. Wisconsin doesn’t run such asshole advertising about our dairy products; we let their quality speak for itself.

Hyperbole aside, I find this map kind of interesting, however they came up with it. I am in the process of two moves (my “permanent residence” is moving, and I am going to another state for graduate school), and I’m both pleased and disappointed to see that according to this map, both of my new states are less happy than my home. It sucks that people are so dissatisfied in those places, but I’m proud that Wisconsin’s such a pleasant place to live. I’m really quite happy here, and if I had the choice, neither of these moves would be happening for me. I hope to come back here when I’ve got my own home.

I’m kind of surprised about New Mexico–I would’ve expected a higher level of satisfaction there.
Meems 6:19 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

I’m a Boston native, lived in California (Los Angeles) for five years, then in Nashville, and am currently back in Boston.

I am, by far, the happiest here.

All three states are apparently similar in their levels of happiness, but I suspect that it’s also somewhat self selective…
Anonymous 6:49 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

@Patrick – Minnesota is a liberal state (well, it goes blue in elections, anyway), and it’s “happy”.

As a Minnesota resident, I ALSO hate those happy cow ads. Why wouldn’t cows be happy in MN? I find that Minnesota residents are pretty happy about where they live. The winters are pretty hard, and so many of the people who remain here pride themselves on their strength, or endurance, or something. Minnesota is a great place to live – which surprises a lot of people. The cities have tons of cool stuff to do, a great theater scene, good coffee shops and restaurants. It’s sort of a hidden gem.

Sorry for the travel brochure, but I really do love it here! (although ask me again in January)
Luey 6:49 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

Sorry, above comment is mine
Juniper 7:35 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

@Kate H, I am from Utah as well and now live in California. My first thought was along similar lines but more that it is proof of the graph: All those happy pills they take make them satisfied. The fact that Utahns take more antidepressants than other states creates the illusion that they are happy.

And as a few others said, the bible belt states seem the happiest and the others don’t. Does it have to do with how we view the world? Californians see how California could be better, and are therefore less satisfied than Utahns who believe everything is happy and cheery unless you are a bad person. By admitting you aren’t happy, you are admitting that you are not chosen.

But, bottom line, 12% in a study based on something not quantifiable really doesn’t mean much except as a point to initiate discourse.
SarahMC 8:13 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

The Bible Belt states don’t look so happy. The mountain west appears to be happiest, along with New England (with the exception of RI). The rust belt is understandably miserable.
Lightbulby 11:29 pm on July 13, 2009 | # | Reply

People in MN in the twin cities seem happy with their environment, but the other regions such as the iron range might be different.
I hate those cow commercials too. Midwest dairy cows would probably the happiest cows if you polled the cows. Isn’t California kind of hot, crowded and mountainous for cattle?
jujubee 2:22 am on July 14, 2009 | # | Reply

California is bigger than most countries.

the farming areas of the central valley and the deserts in the southwest are poor and have high unemployment.

the coasts and the mountains are among the most beautiful on earth.
Andrew 9:10 am on July 14, 2009 | # | Reply

I think there’s a lot of misinterpretation of data going on – no offence to anyone here, but it seems like the data behind the map were misleadingly framed.

“Satisfaction with place of residence” wouldn’t appear to me to have much to do with all-around happiness, although the impact is obvious. During the years I lived in California, I was often quite happy with life in general (aided in large part by the nice weather, social tolerance, and great food). But in a survey like this, I would’ve cited a lot of dissatisfaction with my location. Why? Because I just plain couldn’t afford it. I thought I’d be a lot better off if I could pay the rent with only one job, or not have to live in crowded houses full of psychos, so my place of residence was a big problem.

One thing I notice with the places with high dissatisfaction rates is that their major population centers are among the country’s most expensive (California, NY, Mass., DC/MD) or their unemployment and poverty rates are among the highest (Miss., Michigan, West Virginia, Louisiana). People associate these problems with their location, regardless of how happy they are with life in general.

One hypothesis would be that relative availability of jobs and low cost of living are more impotant to feeling “satisfied” with location than climate, natural environment, politics/ideology, and population density. Or in other words: it’s the economy, stupid.
Louche 12:53 pm on July 14, 2009 | # | Reply

I’m from Texas, and I can tell you… Texans aren’t going anywhere.

And I’ve been to Utah… you have to love it to live there. No one in their right minds would purposely live in the open desert unless they liked living in the open desert. Of course, New Mexicans are unhappy about the whole immigration b.s. and the bad publicity it gives them.

What’s so great about the Northwest? That they can travel out of state and feel special when told, “I’ve never met anyone from there before”?
Bagelsan 1:59 am on July 15, 2009 | # | Reply

What’s so great about the Northwest? That they can travel out of state and feel special when told, “I’ve never met anyone from there before”?

I think it’s that we can wear hiking socks with sandals and get rained on constantly, really. Brightens *my* day!
Morgiana 8:56 pm on July 15, 2009 | # | Reply

I am from California and about the happy cow ads, it seems like false advertising. Californian dairy farms are mostly industrial (I think this site also had a post on that). Why would a cow be happy in those conditions? And the open field is really misleading, too, since I assume they rarely, if at all, see it. Correct me if I am wrong here.
Sehnsucht 6:38 pm on July 16, 2009 | # | Reply

Don’t believe the “happy cow” commercials! Those cows are miserable! There are places in California (that can be seen AND smelled from the highway) that are nothing but miles and miles of factory farms where millions of these poor animals are crammed up against each other in dirty lots. My family owns a dairy farm in Pennsylvania, so I know what cows are supposed to smell like. The California cows smell like disease and death!
cindy 1:35 pm on August 24, 2009 | # | Reply

my biggest issue with the happy cows commercials is that they are horrifically false advertising. most california cheese is made with milk from cows who are, as other posters have mentioned, crowded into factory farms and treated cruelly. this kind of advertising is insidiously misleading, and i wish there was more discussion of that fact.
Marketing “America” To The Vietnamese » Sociological Images 2:01 pm on August 25, 2009 | # | Reply

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