A study conducted by an international team of researchers suggests that people tend to be happier when they experience the emotions they desire, even if those emotions include unpleasant ones like anger and hatred.
The study involved over 2,300 university students from various countries, and participants reported their desired and felt emotions. While most preferred positive emotions, those who experienced the emotions they desired, whether positive or negative, reported higher life satisfaction.
The research challenges the traditional notion of happiness measured as a ratio of positive to negative emotions.
The study found that some individuals wanted to feel less positive emotions, like love, and more negative emotions, like hatred.
The findings highlight the complexity of human emotions and question the expectation of constant happiness, emphasizing that experiencing a range of emotions, even unpleasant ones, can contribute to overall well-being. However, the study’s relevance does not extend to those with clinical depression.