Joint Effects of Gender and Personality on Choice of Happiness Strategies

Abstract

The purpose of our study is to investigate the individual and joint effects of gender and personality on choice of happiness strategies. A total of 204 participants were surveyed on happiness strategies and were classified as Thinking or Feeling based on the MBTI Form M and a “true fit” workshop. The interaction effects revealed detailed differences in participants that would be missed if gender or personality were studied in isolation. The majority of differences were due to Females with “Feeling” preferences expressing significantly higher use of happiness strategies than Males with “Thinking” preferences. Females with “Thinking” preferences and Males with “Feeling” preferences showed few significant differences from other types. Future researchers may need to address the ‘silent minority’' of men and women who have been clustered with others solely based on gender.