Happiness Calculator
Assess your subjective well-being using the validated Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)
Subjective Happiness Scale Assessment
Happiness Assessment Results
Please answer all 4 questions to see your happiness score.
Evidence-Based Happiness Exercises
🌟 Three Good Things
Every day, write about three positive events and explain why they occurred. This builds optimism and gratitude.
💝 Gift of Time
Give someone a "gift" of your time this week - share a meal, help with chores, or simply listen.
💌 Gratitude Letter
Write a letter to someone who has positively influenced your life. Consider delivering it in person.
😄 Three Funny Things
Daily, write about three funny moments you experienced or observed. Laughter boosts mood significantly.
🤝 Counting Kindness
At day's end, note all kind acts you performed. This reinforces prosocial behavior and self-worth.
🚪 One Door Closes
Write about times when negative events led to positive outcomes. This builds resilience and hope.
Psychology of Happiness
Losada's positive ratio for healthy emotional well-being
Lyubomirsky's pie model shows that 40% of happiness comes from intentional activities you can control.
Happiness Facts
Money beyond $75,000 has diminishing returns on happiness
Happiness is not correlated with education level or intelligence
Extroversion and social relationships strongly predict happiness
Women experience both more positive and negative emotions than men
Materialistic people tend to be less happy overall
⚕️ Important Medical Disclaimer
This happiness calculator is for educational and informational purposes only.It is not a substitute for professional mental health assessment, diagnosis, or treatment.
The Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS) is a validated psychological instrument, but individual results should be interpreted in context with professional guidance. If you're experiencing persistent unhappiness, depression, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm, please consult with a qualified mental health professional immediately.
Seek immediate help if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- International Association for Suicide Prevention: Crisis Centers
Understanding Happiness and Subjective Well-Being
What is Happiness?
Happiness, scientifically known as "subjective well-being," is characterized by the presence of positive emotions over negative ones and overall life satisfaction. It's both a momentary feeling and a long-term evaluation of life quality.
About the Subjective Happiness Scale
The SHS is a validated 4-item scale developed by Lyubomirsky and Lepper. It measures global subjective happiness by comparing oneself to others and to characterizations of happy and unhappy individuals.
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Research shows mixed results. While meeting basic needs is essential, studies suggest that beyond approximately $75,000 annually, additional income has diminishing returns on emotional well-being. However, recent research indicates well-being can continue to rise with wealth, though materialistic people tend to be less happy overall.
Factors Influencing Happiness
Genetics (50%)
Your baseline happiness is largely determined by heredity
Intentional Activities (40%)
Actions and thoughts you can control to boost happiness
Life Circumstances (10%)
External factors like income, marital status, health
Scoring Guide
- 6.0-7.0: Very high happiness (top 10%)
- 5.0-5.9: Above average happiness
- 4.5-4.9: Average happiness range
- 3.5-4.4: Below average happiness
- 1.0-3.4: Low happiness (consider professional help)