Houses have gotten bigger over time, but people haven't gotten any happier - thanks to social psychology.
Our satisfaction is derived by social comparisons with our neighbors, and a cycle of one-upsmanship and social disconnection erodes our happiness.
theatlantic.com/family/archive…pic.twitter.com/LhNdtJYBVj
The average new house is about 1,000 square feet bigger than it was 40 years ago—but Americans aren't any more satisfied with their homes. My latest for @TheAtlantic
Houses getting bigger, Americans not getting happier—median home size went from 1,500 sqft to 2,500 in 40 years, satisfaction with them went nowhere. Blame the Joneses (@econnaturalist has been pointing this out for a long time): buff.ly/2X3xWRYpic.twitter.com/GPHsXJO1GQ