SFL/METU
Dept. of B.E.
RHO 1
March 2017
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE GROUP
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
BEFORE YOU READ
A. DISCUSSION
Do you agree or disagree with these quotations? Discuss with your partner.
1. “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” (George Sand)
2. “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” (Oscar Wilde)
3. “Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.” (John Barrymore)
4. “Any search for a "pain-free existence" is doomed to failure.” (Russ Harris)
5. “Now and then it’s good to pause our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” (Anonymous)
6. “I think happiness is overrated. Satisfied, at peace- those would be more realistic goals.” (Brad Pitt)
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Before the 1990s, happiness was not a concept that was studied widely by researchers. Many psychologists of
those times based their research on mental disorders that stemmed from sadness and stress. In the late 1990s,
however, psychologists started to observe positive moods, claiming that we would never learn about the full
range of human functions unless we knew as much about mental wellness as we do about mental illness. A new
generation of psychologists is now doing research on positive character traits and happiness-boosting practices.
At the same time, developments in neuroscience also provide new clues to what makes us happy and what that
looks like in the brain. Experts took advantage of the trend with guarantees to eliminate worry, stress, and even
boredom. However, this happiness movement has provoked a great deal of opposition among psychologists who
observe that the preoccupation with happiness comes at the cost of sadness, an important feeling that people
try to banish from their lives. Allan Horwitz says that it worries him when young people who are naturally sad
after breakups are often urged to medicate themselves instead of working through their sadness. He adds that
the obsession with happiness results in a disrespect for the melancholic perspective that has given rise to the
greatest works of art. "The happy man," he writes, "is a hollow man."
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After all, people are remarkably adaptable. Except for some truly serious events, such as the unexpected loss of
a job or the death of a spouse, people usually go back to their previous level of happiness, no matter what happens
to them. Our adaptability works in two directions. Because we are so adaptable, points out Professor Sonja
Lyubomirsky of the University of California, we quickly get used to many of the accomplishments we strive for
in life, such as getting the big job or getting married. Soon after we reach a milestone, we start to feel that
something is missing. We begin coveting another worldly possession or another social advancement. However,
such an approach makes us feel that happiness is always just out of reach, one step away. Moreover, happiness
is not a reward for escaping pain. Russ Harris, the author of The Happiness Trap, calls popular conceptions of
happiness dangerous because they set people up for a "struggle against reality." They do not acknowledge that
there are also disappointments and loss in real life. "If you want to lead a life worth living," Harris says, "you
should be ready to feel a full range of emotions."
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We are constantly making decisions, ranging from what clothes to put on, to whom we should marry, or which
flavor of ice cream to eat. Intuitively, we seem convinced that the more choices we have, the happier we will
ultimately be. However, our world of unlimited opportunity imprisons us more than it makes us happy. In what
psychologist Barry Schwartz calls “the paradox of choice,” facing many possibilities leaves us stressed out and
less satisfied with whatever we decide. Having too many choices keeps us wondering about all the opportunities
missed.
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Besides, not everyone can put on a happy face. Barbara Held, a professor of psychology at Bowdoin College, says
that "Looking on the bright side isn't possible for some people, and is even counterproductive. When you put
pressure on people to cope in a way that doesn't fit them, it not only doesn't work but it also makes them feel like
a failure." The one-size-fits-all approach to managing emotional life is misguided, says Barbara Held. In her
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research, she has shown that although it is not possible for some people to escape from their anxiety, the
pessimism that these people feel can be used to help them get things done, which in turn makes them happier.
A pessimistic architect, for example, can set low expectations for an upcoming presentation and review all of the
bad outcomes that she's imagining so that she can prepare carefully and increase her chances of success.
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By contrast, an individual who is not living according to his/her values will not be happy, no matter how much
s/he achieves. Some people, however, are not sure what their values are. In that case, Russ Harris has a great
question: "Imagine I could wave a magic wand to ensure that you would have the approval and admiration of
everyone on the planet, forever. What, in that case, would you choose to do with your life?" Once this has been
answered honestly, you can start taking steps toward your ideal vision of yourself. The actual answer is
unimportant as long as you're living consciously. The state of happiness is not really a state at all. It's an ongoing
personal experiment.
A. Find what the following words refer to in the text.
1. they (para. 2)
: ______________________________
2. these people (para. 4)
: ______________________________
B. Mark the correct choice.
1. The word “banish” in para.1 probably means ________.
a) associate
b) implement
c) eliminate
d) refuse
2. The word “coveting” in para. 2 probably means ________.
a) ignoring
b) desiring
c) violating
d) assuming
C. Answer the following questions according to the text.
1. What is necessary to understand the full range of human functions?
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What should teenagers do when they break up with their girlfriend / boyfriend?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Allan Horwitz believes that people should respect the melancholic perspective because this perspective ______
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. When is it difficult to go back to your previous level of happiness? Write two examples.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. According to para. 2, what is necessary to live a meaningful life?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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6. According to para. 3, people wrongly believe that ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
7. According to para. 4, ______________.
a) all people have the ability to have a positive view of life
b) everyone has a different way of managing his or her emotional life
c) putting pressure on people always causes them to feel like a failure
d) pessimistic people may experience bad outcomes due to their low expectations
8. According to para. 5, what type of a person might lead a happy life?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
COLLOCATIONAL VOCABULARY LIST
 in (the) pursuit (of sth) (n, UC): when sb tries to get,
achieve, or find sth in a determined way
 to pursue sb / sth (v, T): 1. to continue trying to
achieve sth over a long period of time
2. chase or follow sb / sth
 to pursue a goal /a career / an aim / an objective
* Some people move to other areas in pursuit of
work.
* There were four police cars in pursuit.
* Briggs ran across the field with one officer
pursuing him.
* She plans to pursue a career in politics.
 stem from (phr. v) to develop as a result of something
else
* Her problems stem from childhood.
* His headaches stemmed from vision problems.
 to observe sb / sth (v, formal) to watch sb / sth
* Children learn by observing adults.
carefully
* Most information was collected
 observation (n) the process of watching sb / sth
observation of the animals’ behavior.
carefully for a period of time
* an observer of nature
 observer (n) sb who regularly watches or pays
* a quiet and observant person
attention to particular things, events, situations etc.
 observant (adj) good or quick at noticing things
by
direct
 to boost sth (v) to increase or improve something and
make it more successful
 boost (n) sth that helps sb/sth increase or be successful
 preoccupation (with sth) (n, C) when you think or worry
about something so much that you do not think about
other things
 preoccupied (with sth) (adj)
* The new resort area has boosted tourism.
* To give the flavor a boost, add a little more
vanilla.
 to urge sb to do sth (v, T) to strongly suggest that sb
does sth (=force)
 urge to do sth (n, C) a strong wish or need [= desire]
* She got a note from Moira urging me to get in
touch.
* He could no longer resist the urge to go and see her.
 to accomplish sth (v, T) to achieve, to succeed in
 accomplishment (n) success
 accomplished (adj) skillful and successful
* Mission accomplished (=we have done what we
intended to do).
* a highly accomplished designer
 to strive to do sth / for sth (v) to make a great effort to
achieve something
* We are constantly striving to improve our service.
* We must continue to strive for greater efficiency.
* strive for peace/happiness
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* The management's preoccupation with costs and
profits resulted in a drop in quality and customer
service.
* He's completely preoccupied with all the wedding
preparations at the moment.
 to acknowledge that (v, T) to admit or accept that
something is true
 to acknowledge sth
 acknowledgement (n, C)
* He acknowledges that when he's tired he gets
bad-tempered.
* Are you prepared to acknowledge your
responsibility?
* We want an acknowledgement of the existence of
the problem.
 disappointment at/with/over sth (n) a feeling of
unhappiness because something is not as good as you
expected. (=frustration)
 to disappoint sb (v)
 to be disappointed (that)
 to be disappointed (in / with sb / sth) (adj)
* Several people expressed disappointment at the
delay.
* I hate to disappoint you, but I’m just not interested.
* She was disappointed (that) they hadn’t phoned.
* I’m very disappointed in you.
 outcome of sth (n, C) the result or effect of sth
* Nobody knows the outcome of the election yet.
 approval (n) when sb / sth is officially accepted
 give / grant /receive / obtain approval
 with/without somebody's approval
 to approve of sb / sth (v) X to disapprove of sb/
sth (v)
* It is just three months since we received official
approval to go ahead with the project.
* A company cannot be sold without the approval of
the shareholders.
* He strongly disapproved of the changes that had
been made.
* The crowd watched the singer in admiration.
* I am full of admiration for his honesty.
* The school is widely admired for its excellent
teaching.
* Her dedication to her work was admirable.
 in admiration / full of admiration for sth (n) a feeling
of great respect and liking
 in admiration / full of admiration for sth
 to admire sb /sth (for sth) (v)
 admirable (adj)
VOCABULARY PRACTICE
A. The words in the box below are boldfaced and italicized in the text. Find their
SYNONYMS/DEFINITIONS in column B and write the word and the corresponding letter in the
blank provided.
boost
strive for
urge
preoccupation
acknowledge
observe
A.
1. __________________ (para.1)
B.
a) obsession, concern
2. __________________ (para.1)
b) force
3. __________________ (para.1)
c) devote serious energy and effort
4. __________________ (para.1)
d) watch carefully
5. __________________ (para.2)
e) increase
6. __________________ (para.2)
f) admit
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B. Fill in the blanks in the sentences using the correct forms of the words and then write other forms of
the words in the boxes.
1. Finishing the course gave me a great sense of ____________.
accomplish (v)
2. There are several different ways to __________ the same task.
3. She is one of the most ______________ painters of her era.
***
4. She would like to ____________ a career in politics.
pursue
5. The hounds were running in the woods in ________ of a fox.
***
6. Don't be too ____________ if everything doesn't go as planned.
disappoint
7. She couldn’t hide her ____________ and started to cry.
***
8. I find her loyalty quite ____________.
9. She gazed at the stars in ____________and thought about how
small we are.
admiration
10. In the story, the young hero is ____________ for his courage and
wits.
***
11. Kids cannot go on school trips without their parents’
____________.
approval
12. Her family ____________ of the marriage because they thought
he was not worthy of their daughter.
C. Fill in the gaps in the text with the correct preposition.
In my childhood years, I was always preoccupied 1.__________ books. I used to devour books, read them cover
to cover in a very short time. I would admire the heroes who were 2.____ pursuit ____ something bigger than
themselves, like peace or God, or love. They would continue to strive 3._____ their goals, even at the cost of their
lives or loved ones. I think my love of books stemmed 4._______ the fact that my mother used to read bedtime
stories to me every night, and I looked for the next night to listen to the next chapter. Looking at the kids now, I
am a bit disappointed 5.________ their disinterest in reading. They are so full 6.____ admiration ______ video
games and cartoons. I wonder how they get the approval 7.________ their parents to play such long hours of
video games, it is simply unhealthy.
POST-READING (OPTIONAL)
A. DISCUSSION
1. Do you agree with the opinions of Harris, the author of “The Happiness Trap?” What is different about his
ideas?
2. Harris asks: "Imagine I could wave a magic wand to ensure that you would have the approval and admiration
of everyone on the planet, forever. What, in that case, would you choose to do with your life?" What would be
your answer?
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