Work, Happiness, and Unhappiness

Paid work is a primary arena of human activity and one that influences an individual's well-being and sense of self. InWork, Happiness, and Unhappiness,author Peter Warr, an award-winning psychologist who studies the topic of effectiveness and well-being in work situations, explores why some people at work are happier or unhappier than others, and adopts an environment-centered as well as a person-centered approach to explain such differing sentiments. Ultimately, Warr illustrates that environmental and personal sources of happiness are similar across settings, and not solely relevant to the domain of paid work. To elaborate on environmental features that affect well-being, the book presents what is dubbed the "vitamin model". This model identifies nine principle features of any environment that affect happiness or unhappiness, and demonstrates that an increase in a particular environmental feature does not pose an equally significant influence on an individual, much like the benefits associated with vitamins do not accrue when more vitamins are consumed. Consequently, Warr proposes balancing environmental characteristics, such that a deficiency is harmful, but excess is unnecessary. An examination of person-centered approaches complements the environment-centered emphasis. This part of the volume addresses the mental processes that take place in an individual's assessment of his or her happiness or unhappiness, while reviewing judgments made in the face of the type of environmental features introduced in the book's earlier chapters. Cultural, demographic, and gender differences are also covered. The book is written primarily for academic readers, including senior undergraduates, graduate students, teachers, and researchers in fields of Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Management, Human Resources, and Labor Studies. However, the topic's centrality in many professions makes it important also to a wider readership.