A study on personality and happiness among college students

Abstract

Aim: According to Allport (1961), “Personality is a dynamic organization, inside the person, of psychophysical systems that create the person’s characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors.” Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values. It is a state, not a trait; in other words, it isn’t a long-lasting, permanent feature or personality trait, but a more fleeting, changeable state (Courtney E. Ackerman). The aim of this research was to study the relationships between personality and happiness among college students across gender. Subjects completed Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised- Abbreviated, Subjective Happiness Inventory (General Happiness Scale). Data were analyzed using Mean, Standard deviation, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman rank correlation. Result: Result of the study shows that there is no relationship between personality traits and happiness. There is a significant difference in the level of psychoticism among college students across their gender. There is no significant difference in the level of neuroticism, extraversion and happiness among college students across their gender. Based on these results, personality does not provide any context in which happiness operates.