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Studies have cast doubt on whether Subjective Well-Being (SWB) levels actually return to normal after significant life events. [1] [2] So a core element of thi

Studies have cast doubt on whether Subjective Well-Being (SWB) levels actually return to normal after significant life events. [1] [2] So a core element of this post may not even be an actual phenomenon. [1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17469954 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17469954 [2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289759/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289759/

tedks 11y ago
Your first link is paywalled, but the second study hardly seems to "cast doubt" as you say. While we're taught to think about science in terms of "one experiment can disprove a whole theory!", the actual probability of getting an experiment wrong is much higher than the probability of a very established theory predicting an opposing effect to what's actually the case.
- abandonliberty 11y ago
  There are many supposed theories that survive for decades with little scientific support. Such as the RICE treatment for illnesses, which has finally been denounced by its creator. [1] http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html The pressure to publish new results and the low attention given to validation experiments drives a lot of unreliable outcomes.
stevoski 11y ago
> Studies have cast doubt on whether Subjective Well-Being (SWB) levels actually return to normal after significant life events. I had heard (in a TED talk I think) that humans typically need only three months or so to get back to "feeling normal" after a terrible life event. Then I had my one terrible life event (widowed two days after marriage). Boy was that TED talk wrong! The next few years were a desolate wasteland.
- IkmoIkmo 11y ago
  Man I can't even imagine, all the best to you.
- visakanv 11y ago
  I'm so sorry for your loss.
- facetube 11y ago
  Man, I'm so sorry.
- ctchocula 11y ago
  This is the TED talk you were talking about [0]. I'm sorry for your loss. [0]: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy?...

tedks 11y ago

Your first link is paywalled, but the second study hardly seems to "cast doubt" as you say. While we're taught to think about science in terms of "one experiment can disprove a whole theory!", the actual probability of getting an experiment wrong is much higher than the probability of a very established theory predicting an opposing effect to what's actually the case.

abandonliberty 11y ago
There are many supposed theories that survive for decades with little scientific support. Such as the RICE treatment for illnesses, which has finally been denounced by its creator. [1] http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/why-ice-delays-recovery.html The pressure to publish new results and the low attention given to validation experiments drives a lot of unreliable outcomes.

stevoski 11y ago

> Studies have cast doubt on whether Subjective Well-Being (SWB) levels actually return to normal after significant life events. I had heard (in a TED talk I think) that humans typically need only three months or so to get back to "feeling normal" after a terrible life event. Then I had my one terrible life event (widowed two days after marriage). Boy was that TED talk wrong! The next few years were a desolate wasteland.

IkmoIkmo 11y ago
Man I can't even imagine, all the best to you.
visakanv 11y ago
I'm so sorry for your loss.
facetube 11y ago
Man, I'm so sorry.
ctchocula 11y ago
This is the TED talk you were talking about [0]. I'm sorry for your loss. [0]: https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy?language=en https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy?...