Britons happier in the Great Depression than today
September 1, 2005
Britons were happier in the Great Depression than today, researchers claim.
The 1930s era of widespread poverty, unemployment and the threat of war really was the good old days, they reckon.
And boffins say the nation’s gloomier outlook in 2005 is rooted in one thing — money.
The findings are based on surveys of all age groups by psychologists at Cardiff University.
Dr Cliff Arnall said: “As we get richer financially our expectations get higher. We’re now more affluent and used to the idea.
“But people become obsessed with getting more money and feel more of a need to keep up with our neighbours.
There is more competitiveness, which wasn’t so much of an issue in the 30s. All this means people forget the true things that make them happy.”
Dr Arnall added: “If you talk to people in their 80s about their happiest time, quite a few mention the war. It’s the sense of being together.”
But the findings were rubbished by the uni’s history lecturer Dr Scott Newton.
He said: “People then couldn’t find jobs, had to pay for medical care, suffered more disease, and were frightened of the Nazis. It was an extremely stressful time.”
The study also concluded that the optimum times to be happy are noon and just before bed.
Travelling to work, housework and tackling emails are most likely to spoil our mood.
Sex is most likely to make us smile, followed by socialising and relaxing.
Source: Sun, 31/08/2005