Never Hire a Happy Person?

Greet your customers with a smile… but don’t even think of being truly happy at your job. Well, that’s what a recent study seems to suggest: “In a study by University of New South Wales psychology professor Joe Forgas, 117 students viewed video clips designed to put them in good or bad moods, according to the story. Later they were asked to view a film of people being asked about the theft of a movie ticket. The happy students were unable to detect guilt above chance level. The unhappy students did better.” ABA Journal, April 5^th. Hmmm…

It gets worse, you miserable (but productive) fools! “Researchers point to studies showing people reporting high levels of happiness early in their lives or in college earned less money later in life than those who were less cheerful…” ABA Journal. Yup, being too happy is bad for your wallet, it seems, and you just might have impaired judgment that employers might not want: “Studies show that there is a darker side to feeling good and that the pursuit of happiness can sometimes make you . . . well, less happy. Too much cheerfulness can make you gullible, selfish, less successful — and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.” Washington Post, April 2^nd. So trying to be happy makes you miserable, but if you are happy, you might make a miserable employee? Any other risks? “Psychologists say high levels of positive feelings are associated with risk taking behaviors, such as alcohol and drug consumption, and can hurt career success…” ABA Journal. And I was going to propose a toast to happiness. Oh well….

Uh oh, I am beginning to feel truly unhappy, and that’s good, right? But earning less money has to make folks… er… less happy? “Psychologist Edward Diener, renowned for his happiness research, and his colleagues analyzed a variety of studies, including data from more than 16,000 people around the world, and discovered that those who early in their lives reported the highest life satisfaction (for example, judging it at 5 on a 5-point scale) years later reported lower income than those who felt slightly less merry when young. What’s more, they dropped out of school earlier.” The Post. So the guy who washes my car and is humming a happy tune is someone I would prefer to be? I am so confused! Mom, why did you push me so hard to do well in school?!

“…Diener explains why too much happiness may not benefit your career. People who don’t experience much sadness or anxiety aren’t as likely to find a better job or get more education… Studies also show that sad people pay more attention to details and think in a more systematic manner, the story says. Happy people, on the other hand, may be more prone to rely on stereotypes. They are also easier to deceive, which may mean that guilty defendants want them on juries, the story says.” ABA Journal.

But are there any benefits at all to being a happy person? “Happiness does have benefits (beyond feeling good, of course). It can protect us from stroke and from the common cold, makes us more resistant to pain and even prolongs our lives. Yet, June Gruber, a professor of psychology at Yale University who has studied happiness, warns that it’s important to experience positive moods in moderation.” The Post. Yeah, without moderation, you are will become a total loser! Long impoverish existence sounds truly sucky, but sadness is good for business! I guess this simply proves that maxim: “Companies love misery”!

I’m Peter Dekom, and I am now delighted at my sadness but hoping that this joy won’t hurt my productivity.