YOUR RESULTS ON
THE PSYCHAP INVENTORY
(FOR FORM B ONLY)
The Psychap Inventory is a measure of how happy you are as a person. It compares you, your feelings, and the life you're living, to the happiest people psychologists have studied. Its aim is to help you understand how you could get more happiness and satisfaction from life.
The results of your questionnaire fall into five major scoring categories:
1. Your Achieved Happiness Score
2. Your Happy Personality Score
3. Your Attitudes & Values Score
4. Your Happy Life-Style Score
5. Grand Total Score.In the pages below you'll find an extensive interpretation of each of these scores. We believe that you'll find the descriptions highly accurate. However, as with all personality tests, there is always a "margin of error" possible in every score. You must be the judge as to whether the interpretations are true of you, or not. Still, if the test interpretation seems accurate to you, and you're not as happy as you would like to be, there's a lot you can do to improve things! This is because your scores not only assess your current happiness status -- they also lead to a prescription of specific ways you might improve your happiness presented in the last sections of this interpretation.
THE ACHIEVED HAPPINESS SCORE
People obviously vary in the amount of fulfillment, satisfaction, and happiness they derive from their lives. Your achieved happiness score provides a measure of this satisfaction. Individuals with high scores in this test-area have achieved high levels of personal happiness. Positive test-items identify individuals who are very satisfied with the way their life is going, derive a great deal of happiness from living, gain many rewarding feelings from the major aspects of their life, enjoy vitality and good health, and have a disposition that is generally quite content, enthusiastic, and happy. Low scorers have dispositions that are rarely happy, are sometimes depressed, and live lives that aren't going as well as they would like. They are not all content with their lives, experience many stressors in their important life areas, have many felt personal dissatisfactions, and consequently feel unhappy and unfulfilled.
YOUR SCORE ON ACHIEVED HAPPINESS: Find your score below -- and its brief description of how you compare to the general profile outlined above...If you scored a 16, your score is EXTREMELY HIGH. It places you among the top 5% of the happiest people who've taken this test before.You are probably remarkably happy, you view your life as abundant, and you find most every day filled rewards and satisfactions.
A score of 15 is considered VERY HIGH. It places you in the top 15% of our testing population, and it strongly suggests that you are very happy and reasonably satisfied with your life, especially compared to others.A score from 13 to 14 puts you ABOVE AVERAGE. This score puts you within the top third of people who've taken this test before (but below the top 15%). You probably consider yourself "pretty happy" overall.
If you scored from 10 to 12, your score here is AVERAGE, which indicates you're about as happy as most people (an AVERAGE score is defined as the middle third of the population). Like most "average" scorers, you're generally more satisfied than dissatisfied with your life, and are "fairly" to "somewhat" happy, overall. Our best research, however, suggests that your happiness is rather borderline -- you're far from being depressed -- but you're also far from being as happy as many others are.
A score of 8 or 9 is A BIT BELOW AVERAGE. This means that you're not especially happy these days. Your life probably seems to have more stress than joy, and periods of real happiness are probably rare.You usually don't think of yourself as an unhappy person -- rather, you see yourself as frustrated, discontent, and not too satisfied with your life these days. Still, it's well within normal limits to feel this way -- about 1 in 5 people score in this range.
A score of 7 or lower is FAIRLY LOW. Such a score, if it is accurate, would indicates that you're not a very happy a person these days. You're probably quite frustrated with your current situation -- may often feel hopeless and depressed -- and rarely experience a truly "happy day."
THE SCORES THAT FOLLOW
Of all the scores on this inventory, the Achieved Happiness Score, you just reviewed, should be the most significant to you. As an assessment of your felt, personal happiness, the descriptions above mark your actual happiness-status as it is these days.
But that assessment, by itself, doesn't tell you much more than you were likely aware of in the first place! The scores that follow help fill-in this gap...
The research shows that happy people have certain personality, attitudes, and life-style characteristics which help explain why they are as happy as they are.
You scores on the following Psychap Inventory categories may help you appreciate your own happiness "good traits" and "poor traits," as well -- and explain why you scored as you did on the Achieved Happiness Score.
THE HAPPY PERSONALITY SCORE:
Research has produced a well-established picture of personality characteristics typical of happier individuals. This score compares your personality characteristics to the personality of the happiest individuals studied in past research. Individuals who score high on this scale tend to have many personality characteristics in common with happy people. Those who score low have personalities that are more in common with unhappier individuals. Happy scorers test high on test items measuring an extroverted, spontaneously friendly, and outgoing, social personality; a concern for others, and an ability to be a trusting, accepting friend; a healthy, positive self-image; good self-knowledge and self-acceptance; a high degree of autonomy and self-sufficiency; a lack of negative tensions and problems; a certainty of values; feel in control of their lives; and have a high degree of organization and direction toward their goals. Unhappy scorers tend to be somewhat more shy and introverted; a bit more self-conscious in social settings; a little "down on themselves" and self-critical; are more uncertain about their motivations, values, and direction in life; tend to be a bit disorganized and often procrastinate; rely too much on others and not enough on themselves; and sadly, usually have a lot of problems, stress, and personal difficulties to contend with.
If you scored a 24, you'll find that virtually all of the happy descriptions given above are quite descriptive of you. Simply put: you have the "happy personality."
If you scored 22 or 23, you probably share the majority of the characteristics of happy people as described above.
A score from 19 to21 is "above average" here. You apparently have many of the necessary happiness traits listed above -- but not all.
Scores from 16 to 18 are "average." Like the middle majority (1/3rd of the population), you probably find that some of the "happiness traits" outlined above are true of you -- and these are helping your happiness! But, more than likely, many of the "unhappy traits" are true of you, as well -- and these weaknesses may help explain why you aren't as happy as you could be.
If your score fell from 12 to 15, you probably see more of yourself in the "unhappier" than "happier" descriptions above. This lower score definitely suggests an explanation as to why you're not all that happy these days.
A score of 11 or below strongly suggests that you have much more in common with the unhappy people described above than you do happy ones. Clearly, the many "unhappy traits" you share with unhappy people are a large contributor to your unhappy situation.
THE HAPPINESS ATTITUDES AND VALUES SCOREStudies find that happy people have certain attitudes, values, and ways of looking at life that differ from the attitudinal frameworks of unhappy people. Your Attitudes and Values score compares your values and attitudes to those of the happiest people. High scorers tend to share and live by the values of happy people; low scorers hold attitudes and outlooks more typical of unhappy, dissatisfied people. Individuals scoring high on this scale have a highly optimistic outlook on life; preponderantly positive thought patterns; a more modest level of ambition and expectation; a more realistic (than idealistic) approach to life and goal setting; a value focus on the present (they enjoy living more for today, and are not unduly preoccupied with past hurts or future apprehensions); a very low level of everyday worry; and a strong value commitment to their own personal happiness. Individuals scoring low on this scale are the opposite: they disvalue happiness, over-idealize their goals, think pessimistically, worry a great deal, interpret most everyday events negatively, and are often preoccupied with past and/or future problems.
If you scored 18 or 19, you'll find that virtually all of the happy descriptions given above are quite descriptive of you. Simply put: you have the "happy attitudes and values."
If you scored 16 or 17, you probably share the majority of the characteristics of happy people as described above.
A score from 14 to15 is "above average" here. You apparently have many of the necessary happiness traits listed above -- but not all.
Scores from 12 to 13 are "average." Like the middle majority (1/3rd of the population), you probably find that some of the "happiness traits" outlined above are true of you -- and these are helping your happiness! But, more than likely, just as many of the "unhappy traits" are true of you, as well -- and these weaknesses may help explain why you aren't as happy as you could be.
If your score fell from 9 through 11, you probably see more of yourself in the "unhappier" than "happier" descriptions above. This lower score definitely suggests an explanation as to why you're not all that happy these days.
A score of 8 or below strongly suggests that you have much more in common with the unhappy people described above than you do happy ones. Clearly, the many "unhappy attitudes" you share with unhappy people are a large contributor to your unhappy situation.
THE HAPPINESS LIFE-STYLE SCORE.In addition to the differences in personality, attitudes, and values, research also shows that happy people also live their day-to-day lives in a way that is significantly opposite from that of unhappier people. This score compares your life-style to the way happier individuals live their lives. People who score happily on this scale live an involved, exciting, and robust life. They display a high level of social interaction, socializing, and organizational participation; have close, rewarding ties with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family; live lives that are highly active and busy; spend the majority of their time in activities that are enjoyable, fun, and exciting; are involved with work or avocations that are meaningful, significant, and rewarding; have broad interests; and are currently involved in a satisfying love-relationship. Low scoring individuals are caught in lives that are far less active, rewarding, social, or enjoyable.
If you scored a 20 or 21, you'll find that virtually all of the happy descriptions given above are quite descriptive of you. Simply put: you live the "happy life-style."
If you scored 18 or 19, you probably share the majority of the characteristics of happy people as described above.
A score from 15 to17 is "above average" here. You apparently have many of the necessary happiness traits listed above -- but not all...
Scores from 12 to 14 are "average." Like the middle majority (1/3rd of the population), you probably find that some of the "happiness traits" outlined above are true of you -- and these are helping your happiness! But, more than likely, just as many of the happier descriptions are not true of you -- and these weaknesses may help explain why you aren't as happy as you could be.
If your score fell from 9 to 11, you probably see more of yourself in the "unhappier" than "happier" description above. This lower score definitely suggests an explanation as to why you're not all that happy these days. (To be fair, part of the reason for low scores here can be due to certain economic, employment, and family conditions beyond personal control -- but not all.)
A score of 8 or below strongly suggests that your day-to-day life is far more like the 'life-style" of unhappy people -- and may have a great deal to with the unhappy situation you find yourself in these days. (To be fair, part of the reason for low scores here can be due to certain economic, employment, and family conditions beyond personal control -- but not all.)
THE TOTAL SCORE
& YOUR OWN "HAPPINESS PRESCRIPTION"
To understand your total score, a little background is in order...The five scores on this inventory were created by its' author, Dr. Michael Fordyce, to to directly correspond with his widely- recognized research work on increasing personal happiness. Based on research in the field, Dr. Fordyce has identified fourteen characteristics of happier people that most anyone can develop themselves. Briefly listed:
1. Be more active and keep busy.
2. Spend more time socializing.
3. Be productive at meaningful work.
4. Get better-organized and plan things out.
5. Stop worrying.
6. Lower your expectations and aspirations.
7. Develop positive optimistic thinking.
8. Get present-oriented.
9. Work on a healthy personality.
10. Develop an outgoing social personality.
11. Be yourself.
12. Eliminate negative feelings and problems.
13. Close relationships are the #1 source of happiness.
14. Value happiness as your top priority.These 14 traits have come to be known as "the fourteen fundamentals" for happiness, and they are extensively explained in Dr. Fordyce's Psychology of Happiness publications and media you will be directed to below.
Research studies suggest that most people who learn about and are able to develop these "fundamentals" become much happier than they originally were. And since items on the test were written to assess your strengths and weaknesses on each of these 14 "fundamentals," the resulting scores point directly to a series of specific things you can do to improve your current happiness-situation.
How you, yourself, might benefit from the Psychology of Happiness begins with your total score...
For your total score, all of the test items have been combined to provide an overall assessment of your entire test performance. As such, it provides the most sensitive and discriminative measure of all the scores on the inventory.
If you scored 74 or above, you are among the "extremely happy" -- the top 5% of the people we've tested. (A score of 80 is the maximum possible.) Based on this, it might appear that there is probably little you could gain (in terms of greater happiness) from the Psychology of Happiness materials. Still, we bet you're somewhat curious as to WHY you scored so remarkably well. And the in-depth answers can be found in those same materials. The research shows that even really happy people know very little about the psychological causes of their happiness, thus we recommend further study -- not to find-out "what to do to become happy" -- but to find-out "why you already are." Consider this: "the surest way to loose happiness is to know nothing about it..."
Scores from 68 to 73 are considered "very high" and represent the top 15% of scorers, best described as "very happy" people. Such a score indicates that, as happy as you feel you are, there are a few things which might improve your happiness even further learning about the Psychology of Happiness. But, perhaps even more important to your maintaining the happiness you've achieved, these materials can lead you to a better understanding as to why you scored as happily as you have!
Scores from 60 to 67 are considered "above average" (at the lower end of the top third of scorers), and rank among those who describe themselves as "pretty happy." Although such a score indicates that you're reasonably happy now, your potential is much greater! Some of your individual scores suggest some weak areas where happiness improvements could be made! Look over the recommendations in the sections below to see what they might suggest for you.
Scores from 51 to 59 defines the vast, middle third of scores who describe themselves as "fairly happy" to "not unhappy." Most researchers and opinion polls include such scores as part of the "happy" people in any country. But we consider such a score as mediocre, at best. Although in the large middle majority, our research suggests that you have just as many stressed-out and unhappy days as you have good ones -- and that your happiness is far from the more positive descriptions you've read about above. Simply described, you're not an unhappy person, but your degree of happiness has a lot of room for improvement! To make a change for the better, look over the recommendations that follow. There are very likely one, or more, weak areas gleaned from your inventory scores that could possibly direct you to a happier level.
Scores from 42 to 50 suggest you're more unhappy than happy these days. Though you may not feel that you're particularly unhappy or depressed, you certainly recognize that you're far from being satisfied, content, or happy with your life these days -- and apparently you scored fairly low on a number of your previous scores. If so, the Psychology of Happiness materials could be quite helpful to you. Clearly you have some weak areas to work on, and the recommendations that follow give some direction as to where to begin.
Scores from 0 to 41 indicate you're living an unhappy life (especially if this score is well below 41).Based on your low score, it seems likely that you recognize that you're a pretty unhappy person these days. Probably you've been through some tough, hurtful, or
frustrating times recently -- or maybe you've been feeling this way for a longer time. It's normal to go through unhappy periods -- it happens to all of us (indeed, yours is a rather common score --around 1 in 8 people tested with this inventory score in this range). But why settle for it? Your various low scores, outlined in the sections above, definitely show numerous happiness weaknesses which you could work on. The recommendations below may show you where to begin...
PRESCRIPTION RECOMMENDATIONS
Most of the items on this Psychap Inventory were written to assess your current strengths and weakness on each of the "fourteen fundamental" traits of happy people. These items were, in turn, combined to produce three of the scores above: the happy personality score, the happiness attitudes & values score, and the happiness life-style score which have assessed your particular strengths and weaknesses in each of these three broad categories.
Based on your scores, therefore, your prescription makes the following recommendations...
If your score on the Happy Personality Score was "average" or below, then it's recommended that you learn more about the following "personality fundamentals." If this was your lowest score, you need to especially concentrate on these "personality fundamentals:"
Fundamental 4: Get better-organized and plan things out!
Fundamental 9: Work on a healthy personality!
Fundamental 10: Develop an outgoing, social personality!
Fundamental 11: Be yourself!
Fundamental 12: Eliminate negative feelings and problems!
If your score on the Happy Attitudes & Values Score was "average" or below, then it's recommended that you learn more about the following "attitudes and values fundamentals." If this was your lowest score, you need to especially concentrate on these "attitudes and values fundamentals:"Fundamental 5: Stop worrying!
Fundamental 6: Lower your expectations and aspirations!
Fundamental 7: Develop positive, optimistic thinking!
Fundamental 8: Get present-oriented!
Fundamental 14: Value happiness as your top priority!
If your score on the Happy Life-Style Score was "average" or below, then it's also recommended that you learn more about the following "life-style fundamentals." If this was your lowest score, you need to especially concentrate on these "fundamentals:"Fundamental 1: Be more active and keep busy!
Fundamental 2: Spend more time socializing!
Fundamental 3: Be more productive at meaningful work!
Fundamental 13: Close relationships are the #1 source!
But what if you scored quite happily on all the scores? You too, could profit from an education in happiness. According to the research, most happy people are "accidentally happy." They end-up happy, but have little knowledge or understanding of why they are. Psychologists feel that learning "why one is happy" is perhaps just as important than learning "how one can be happy." For this reason, we recommend an education in the Psychology of Happiness to happy people, just as much as we do for those who aren't.
WHERE TO GO NOW...To learn more about the nature of happiness, happiness research, Dr. Fordyce, the "fourteen fundamentals," the Psychology of Happiness , and how you might increase your own happiness in life, go to the internet at this address:
gethappy.net
You'll especially want to read the "online book," The Psychology of Happiness; Its Nature and Its Achievement -- particularly the second volume on Achieving Happiness. (The "online book" and most other materials are currently free of charge.)