The Joyless Economy: The Psychology of Human Satisfaction

Description

Originally published in 1976, this classic work helped to establish the legitimacy of understanding economic behaviour in psychological terms. Its central theme was that, despite the economic abundance that Americans enjoyed in the mid-twentieth century, they were at heart dissatisfied with much of their lives. Mainstream economics could not account for this kind of reaction and Scitovsky sought to explain it in theories that combined economics with psychology. Scitovsky has revised the last chapter and added a new chapter dealing with some contemporary aspects. In addition, Robert Frank, author of Choosing the Right Pond (OUP, 1985) has written a foreword. Contents Chapter One: Introduction: Plutocracy and Mob Rule PART I: THE PSYCHOLOGY AND ECONOMICS OF MOTIVATION Chapter Two: Between Strain and Boredom Arousal Personality Arousal Reduction Chapter Three: The Pursuit of Novelty Physical Stimulation Mental Stimulation Some of the Evidence Threat Measurement Attention Redundancy Signs and Supersigns Uncertainty Chapter Four: Comfort Versus Pleasure The Seduction of Pleasure The Seduction of Comfort Free Choice Between Comfort and Pleasure Comfort and Stimulation Chapter Five: Enter Economics Self-Sufficiency Mutual Stimulation Market Goods and Services External Benefits and External Nuisances Non-Market Goods and Services Work as Self-Stimulation The Importance of the Economic Product Chapter Six: Necessities and Comforts Necessities and Luxuries Defensive and Creative Products Some of the Comforts The Comfort of Belonging The Comfort of Being Useful The Comfort of Sticking to Our Habits What it Means to Become Spoiled Chapter Seven: Income and Happiness "Rankhappiness" Whatever Made Us Believe Income Yields Happiness? PART II: THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE Chapter Eight: Is Our Life Too Good? The Economy of Effort The Economy of Time The Purchase of Health The Economy of Care and Bother Chapter Nine: Is Our Life Too Dull? Food Vacations Company A Conflict Chapter Ten: Our Puritan Ghost The Moral Superiority of Production and Money-Making The Neglect of Housekeeping Puritan Intolerance Chapter Eleven: Our Disdain for Culture The Meaning of Culture The Puritan Attitude Toward Culture Production Skills Versus Consumption Skills The Rational Bias Against Culture Skilled Versus Unskilled Stimulus Enjoyment The Art of Conversation What Do You Know? Chapter Twelve: What's Wrong with Mass Production? The Monotony of Products The Banalization of Art Chapter Thirteen: What's Wrong with Specialization? The Decline of the Generalist Producers' Choice Artists' Choice Decorating Tourism Chapter Fourteen: The End of Sexism and Revival of the Generalist? Do It Yourself Women's Liberation Where Do We Stand? Appendix: Culture Is a Good Thing Notes Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z