Money and fame don't bring happiness, study finds

(HealthScout) UPDATED 2009-05-22

Many people think money, good looks, and fame will bring them happiness. But according to a new study, these kinds of outside, or extrinsic, goals actually don't make people happier. For the study, investigators tracked 147 college graduates, evaluating their goals and their happiness at one year after graduation and then 12 months later. The researchers found that those who had attained goals associated with wealth and fame were less happy than those who achieved more interior, or intrinsic, goals such as personal growth. But those whose goals centered around such things as personal growth, enduring relationships, and helping in the community showed substantial increases in life satisfaction, well-being, and happiness factors. Read full story >

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