2. PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE FOR WORKTOWN STUDIES
What is Happiness?
Definitions from residents
in Bolton In 1938 and 2014
so
Sandie McHugh, Jerome Carson, Julie Prescott,
Emma Entwistle & Charlotte Mackey
s.mchugh@bolton.ac.uk
TIRI Conference - 6th July 2016
5. 1938 Questionnaire
Please return the filled in questionnaire not later than Monday to:-
COMPETITIONS
85 DAVENPORT STREET
BOLTON
so that we can announce the results in Wednesday’s Evening News.
There will be a special extra prize of a £1 for the best questionnaire.
Make the answers YOUR answers, Not the ones you might think we like.
1. The sort of job you have
2. Your age (approximately)
3. How often are you really happy?
4. Please number in order of importance, 1–10, which you think most
important to true happiness of the following, put 1 for the one you
think the most important, 2 for the next, 3 for the third and so on till 10
More equality More politics
More beauty More religion
More leadership and authority More humour
More pleasure More knowledge
More security More action
Which is the easier place to be happy in: Blackpool or Bolton?
Is it easier to be happier weekends or mid-week or is it all
the same to you?
Has luck anything to do with happiness – if so, what?
OK, FILL IN. SEND IN. THEN WAIT FOR THE NEWS
6. What is Happiness in Bolton 2014
We team up
with University
of Bolton to
repeat 1938
experiment
• Web survey (305)
• Paper questionnaires
(184)
7. 1938– 10 aspects of happiness
adapted for 2014
More equality More politics
More beauty More religion
More leadership & authority More good humour
More leisure pleasure More knowledge
More economic security More action
8. EXTRACT from 2014 questionnaire
Please number in order of importance, 1-10, which of the following is most important to true happiness
(1 for the most important, 2 the next important and so on until 10 for the least important)
More Equality More Politics
More Religion More Leisure
More beauty More Good Humour
More leadership More Knowledge
More action More economic security
How often would you describe yourself as really happy? (please tick one)
Every day? Several times a week? A few times a month? rarely ever?
Do you find it easier to be happy at weekends or weekdays or is it all the same to you?
Is Luck anything to do with happiness? (please tick one)
Yes No
If So What?
What are the things in your life that make you the happiest?
9. Happiness Questionnaire 2014
• 2014 additional question
• Do you think that happiness is linked to
material possessions and wealth? Y/N
Instead of letters, we asked for comments:-
• What are the things in your life that make
you the happiest?
10. What was happening in 1938? Effect on Happiness of External Events?
.
Hitler drives into
Vienna
Franco wins
Crucial
Battle in Spain
British volunteers
Basque refugee children
in Bolton
Top rate Income Tax
raised to 5s 6d
Britain pledges to
defend France and
Belgium.
11. What was happening in 2014?
Cost of living crisis – high prices for fuel – budget deficit
British troops in Afghanistan – frequent casualties
12. What affects happiness? External world? Internal consciousness?
Bolton in the 1930’s
Population of 177,000.
200 churches and
chapels.
No welfare state.
Education to age 14
13. What affects happiness? External world? Internal
consciousness
Bolton in 2014
Population 279,000
(2009 88% white, 10% Asian)
81 places of worship.
Welfare State
Free health care
Education to age 18
University loans &
bursaries
14. Bolton in the 1930’s - heavy industry – mining – engineering
Unemployment 17% male, 12% female
15. What affects happiness? External world? Internal consciousness?
Bolton in the 1930’s – industry – 216 cotton mills (1929)
)
After work 47 Cinemas 6 Dance Halls 300 pubs
16. Bolton in the 21st century – industry high-tech - data processing, electronics &
IT – call centres
2014 - Unemployment 4%. Workless households 16%
17. Bolton in the 21st century Service economy - Retail & education
After work:- 7 leisure centres , Octagon theatre, 2 cinemas, 104 pubs ,10 night clubs
18. Characteristics of respondents in 1938 and 2014
1938
• 58% female
• 23% employed textiles
• 6% clerks & draughtsmen
• 28% retired or housewives
Gazeley, I. & Langhamer, C. (2012
Wrote letters on what
Happiness meant to them
2014
• 65% female
• 61% employed
• 7% self-employed
• 28% retired or house/care
• Mean Age 44
Commented on what
happiness meant to them
19. Worktown Happiness Questionnaire 1938 & 2014
• To rank in order the 10 factors important for true
happiness with guidance on meaning
• Asked to describe how often they were happy:- Every
day, several times a week, a few times a month,
rarely ever.
• Asked if it was easier to be happy at home in Bolton
or Blackpool ( away).
• State if it easier to be happier at weekends,
weekdays or the same.
• Asked if happiness was connected to “luck”
20. Comparison of rankings of Aspects of happiness 1938 and 2014
Aspects of Happiness 1938 Aspects of Happiness 2014
1 More Economic Security 1 More Good Humour
2 More Knowledge 2 More Economic Security
3 More Religion 3 More Leisure
4 More Good Humour 4 More Knowledge
5 More Equality 5 More Equality
6 More Beauty 6 More Beauty
7 More Action 7 More Action
8 More Leisure 8 More Leadership
9 More Leadership 9 More Politics
10 More Politics 10 More Religion
21. Gazeley, I. & Langhamer, C. (2012)
1938 Happier weekdays, weekend, or all the same?
(n203) 2% weekdays, 26% weekends, 72% same
72%
26%
2%
Same Weekends Weekdays
Happier time of week 1938
Time of week
22. Gazeley, I. & Langhamer, C. (2012)
2014 Happier weekdays, weekend, or all the same?
(n486) 4% weekdays, 39% weekends, 57% same
57%
39%
4%
Same Weekends Weekdays
Happier time of week 2014
Time of week
23. How often would you describe yourself as really happy?
Percentage of 1938 participants (n=138) in each category.
25
55
11
9
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Every Day
Several tx wk
Few month
rarely
24. How often would you describe yourself as really happy?
Percentage of 2014 participants (n=487) in each category.
24
48
21
6
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Every Day
Several tx wk
Few month
rarely
25. Place and happiness - 1938 Are you happiest in Blackpool or Bolton?
• Special Dance trains – inclusive rail/ballroom tickets at 2/6d from Bolton
to Blackpool for worktowners to “let their hair down”. Clewlow, S.A., (2010)
75%
25%
In Bolton Away Bolton
Place Happiest (n385)
% Place happiest (n = 135)
Gazeley, I. & Langhamer, C. (2012)
26. 2014 Are you happiest in Bolton or away from Bolton?
Do you find it easier to be happier when you at home in Bolton or on
holiday or staying away from Bolton?
39%
61%
In Bolton Away Bolton
Place Happiest (n385)
Place happiest (n = 385)
27. Is luck anything to do with happiness?
• 1938
• 2/5ths (40%) believed luck
played a part in happiness.
Mass Observation interested in
superstition – study of Football
Pools. (Gazeley & Langhamer (2012), p.176
• 2014
• 40.6% yes it does (n = 456).
• Comments indicate life
chances more than lottery?
28. Does material wealth = happiness 1938, 2014?
2014 - 77% (n487) said NO to.
Do you think that your happiness is directly linked to the
amount of material possessions and wealth that you have?
“…..and simple things like going out for a
walk with the dog etc. you don’t need tons
of material things to be happy”
29. Discussion Material Wealth and happiness
• Material wealth can increase perceptions of happiness
Van Boven & Gilovich (2003) purchase of experiences makes
people happier (holidays, sports, trips).
Shrum (2012) material aspirations can make people happier
If motivated by intrinsic goals – affiliation, pride and self
reward.
30. Why use primary source – letters & written comments?
• Letters/comments from 1938 & 2014 –
qualitative data.
• Historical primary data.
• Newspapers, books of period give view of
journalist/author. Official documents – policy.
Secondary data.
• Individual accounts from two periods give us a
unique insight into similarities and contrasts in
the experience of happiness that have occurred
in Bolton over 76 years.
31. Descriptions of happiness by 1938 participants
% of participants Coded comment categories. Many would mention
more than 1 category total above 100.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
35
27 27
21 20
15 15 14
12
Comments
32. Descriptions of happiness by 2014 participants
% of participants Coded comment categories. Many would mention
more than 1 category – so total will be larger than 100.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70 63
52
33 31
18
12 11
Comments
33. Examples from 2014 data ACTIVITIES– largest category – 306
references
• Leisure activities such as theatre, live music,
restaurants, keeping fit.
• My hobbies, the ability to do what I want when I
want.
• A good holiday, cultural experiences.
• Time in nature, my allotment and chickens.
34. Examples from 1938 data ACTIVITIES 27 references
• Films. Wireless music and talks.
• Walking, gardening, cycling, swimming tennis and dancing.
• A tramp over the hills in company of friends.
• Musical selections played on Organs in Churches and
Cathedrals and the Wireless.
35. Examples from 1938 data CONTENTMENT 60 references
• I do not possess a great deal of this world’s goods, but I
can truly say, nobody is more happier or contented than
myself.
• To be happy you must be content.
• Contentment with our lot and making the best of it.
36. Examples from 2014 data CONTENTMENT – ONLY 10 references
contentment linked to other things.
• Happy at home and work and contentment.
• Happiness comes from within you. Contentment.
• My family, a secure job and general contentment.
37. 1938 Frank’s description
Happiness is a state of mind and
attitude……..most of which are within your
own control (2014)
What is Happiness? A state of mind?
38. Examples from 1938 data FAMILY & OTHERS
• When I come home from the pit and see my kiddies and wife I
am happy.
• What happiness – God’s love, children’s love and a dear
husband’s.
• Happiness is a state of one’s mind when you help others.
Loving one’s neighbour as thyself.
• Willingness to help others, cheerfulness in sickness and
poverty, sympathy and help for others in trouble.
39. Examples from 2014 data FAMILY & FRIENDS
• Spending time with my partner.
• My children and family and spending time in our
lovely home together.
• Spending time with friends and family especially in
the great outdoors.
• Meeting and eating with friends
40. Summary
• Quantitative data – from 1938 & 2014 questionnaires.
1938 economic security rated highest aspect of happiness,
second in 2014 with Good humour at top. Leisure rose from 8th
to 3rd and, religion dropped from 3rd in 1938 to 10th in 2014.
Majority were happier away from Bolton in 2014.
Majority were happy several times a week in both periods.
Same percentage (40%) considered that luck did affect
happiness.
More residents rated weekends as more important for happiness
(39% in 2014, 26% 1938)
41. Summary
• Qualitative data – from 1938 Worktown letters &
comments from 2014 questionnaire.
• Primary data – personal letters/comments gives
valuable insight into perceptions & experience of
ordinary people’s happiness
• Frequency of references – most - in 1938 peace of
mind and contentment whilst in 2014 – activities.
Family second most references in both periods.
42. Thank you for Listening
Sandie McHugh,
S.McHugh@bolton.ac.uk
Professor Jerome Carson,
J.Carson@bolton.ac.uk
Dr Julie Prescott
Emma Entwistle
Charlotte Mackey
43. References
• Clewlow, S.A., From Bolton to Blackpool. (2010 unpublished paper, to obtain a
copy contact the author - saclewlow@yahoo.com)
• Gazely, I & Langhamer, C. (2013) The meanings of happiness in Mass Observation’s
Bolton. History Workshop Journal, Spring, 75, 1, 159-189.
• Harrisson, T., Madge, C. (1939 reprinted 2009). Britain (Mass Observation social
Surveys) by Faber and Faber.
• McHugh, S., Carson, J. (2016) Happiness Then and Now . The Psychologist. 29(5)
406-407.
• McHugh, S., Carson, J. (2014) The Changing Nature of Happiness. History Today.
• 64 (12) 4-5.
• McHugh, S., Snape, R., Carson, J., Howarth, J. (2016) Everyday Leisure and
Happiness in Worktown. A comparison of 1938 and 2014. In review for
publication in World Leisure Journal.
• Shrum, L.J., Wong, N; Arif, F. et al. (2012). Reconceptualising materialism as
identity goal pursuits. Functions, processes, and consequences. Journal of
Business Research. Doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2012 .08.010
• Van Boven, L. & Gilovich, T. (2003). To do or to have? That is the question. Journal
of Personality and Social Psychology. 85(6) 1193-1202
44. Related references
• Borrero, D., Escobar, A.B., Cortess, A.M., Maya, L.C. (2013). Poor and distressed,
but happy: situational and cultural moderators of the relationship between wealth and
happiness. Estudois Gerenciales 29. 2-11.
• Dolan, P., Peasgood, T., White, M. (2008). Do we really know what makes us
happy? A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with economic
well-being. Journal of Economic Psychology 29, 94-122
• Easterlin, R.A. (2006). Life cycle happiness and its sources. Intersections of
psychology, economics, and demography. Journal of Economic Psychology 27, 463-
482.
• Hinton, J., (2013) The Mass Observers: A History, 1937-1949 Oxford University
Press.
• Hall, D., (2015). Worktown: The Astonishing Story of the Project that launched Mass
Observation Weidenfield & Nicholson.
• Kahneman, D (2012) In conversation with Lord Richard Layard at the LSE. The
Psychologist, vol 25 (1),14-15.
• Kasser, T (2003) The High Price of Materialism. Cambridge, MA, MIT press
• Office for National Statistics. Measuring National Well-Being : European
Comparisons 2014.
• Priestley, J.B., English Journey, London. Paperback Mandarin 1994).
• Skidelsky, R. & Skidelsky, E., (2012). How Much is Enough ? The Love of Money,
and the Case for the Good Life. Penguin
• Walton, J.K., (1986), Lancashire, A Social History, 1558-1939. (Manchester
University Press ).
