Are Women Genetically Incapable of Happiness?

Why is it that the more you work, the more it feels like you’ve accomplished less? And isn’t it often true that a constant sense of sadness is a trait found in remarkable people?

Let’s dive into that deep sorrow this time, with spring as our backdrop. According to Diener, Lucas and Scollon (2006), people adapt to gains, so achievements rarely lift happiness for long.

Once, halfway through my studies, I felt like I wasn’t truly following my passions because of limitations. Cognitive science and neuroscience were still emerging fields in Poland, and the University of Warsaw didn’t offer them.

Now that I’ve found my path, completed less inspiring projects, and focused on my true interests, there’s still a void. Something’s missing.

It feels like this country is too small, even the world feels confined. No one seems to have that “spark” like Milgram or Zimbardo had. In fact, science feels stagnant, lacking in creativity.

Human rights have taken over everything, leaving no room for boldness. I worry I’ll end up like a caged monkey, tapping away at keys, forgetting the dreams of my youth.

Where Does This Frustration Come From?

There’s also social frustration; I’ve redirected my frustration toward an empty wallet, which stings for a 25-year-old fresh out of good studies. Every day brings unease, even though, objectively, things aren’t bad.

There’s always room for improvement, always more to achieve… Possessions can always grow. 

I read that women are genetically incapable of happiness; maybe there’s some truth to that. It’s disheartening and a bit foreboding. According to Stevenson and Wolfers (2009), women’s reported happiness has declined relative to men’s since the 1970s.

On a related note, I once wondered if it was more advantageous to be a man or a woman.

I concluded it’s best to be a woman under forty, then a man. Everything is still ahead of me.

Thinking about how wealth impacts happiness, I’m beginning to understand the origins of the entertainment industry. According to Kahneman and Deaton (2010), PNAS, higher income improves people’s overall evaluation of their life but has little effect on day-to-day emotional well-being beyond a moderate income threshold.

Watching an American rom-com, you realize it’s the same humor that Brad Pitt or Berlusconi enjoy in private. There’s no cinema for elites, no exclusive music reserved only for the rich.

The sun shines on everyone, just like American stars. Watching Oscar-winning films, the idea that connecting with such films is a mark of global awareness is inspiring.

Politicians, journalists, ambitious minds all share this connection. Ownership doesn’t matter; we all enjoy the same scenes.

Why Are Fortune-Tellers Taking Over Polish Media?

Switching gears, a troubling trend is emerging on TV. Among the annoying teleshopping ads and naive game shows, fortune-telling for the gullible is popping up. Notably, callers seek advice even after midnight.

Birthdates or thin air – you pay for random solutions to life’s most important issues. I can’t imagine consulting a stranger about decisions like marriage or parenthood. It’s extremely bizarre.

I’m stunned it’s even legal; claiming to predict the future and charging for it is sheer audacity. Shouldn’t there be a commission against absurdity in our 40-million strong country? Ultimately, it saddens me that psychologists are lumped together with astrologers and charlatans.

According to Lilienfeld (2012), American Psychologist, this conflation is a well-documented source of public skepticism toward psychology as a genuine science. PR matters, but no one seems to advocate for psychologists in this nation. What a country!