Problem

Toxic positivity

Other Names:
Overemphasis on happiness
Unsatisfactory pursuit of happiness
Nature:

Pursuing happiness may be both good and bad for our well-being; pursued in certain ways, happiness or positivity can become toxic. When people place a high value on their own happiness it can lead to less happiness, especially in contexts where they most expect to feel happy.  This tendency to expect happiness and then to feel disappointed or to blame oneself for not feeling happy enough, has been linked to greater depressive symptoms and deficits in well-being.  Also overemphasising the importance of a positive attitude can backfire, ironically leading to more unhappiness.

Broader Problems:
Mental pollution
Unhappiness
Related Problems:
Anhedonia
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems
Date of last update
11.02.2022 – 02:20 CET