Abstract

Voluntary Simplicity (VS) is both a lifestyle choice and a social movement focused on reducing one's consumption and living with fewer possessions - in balance with the social and natural environment.

Broadly speaking, this project examines the psychological effects of individuals who choose to follow a lifestyle based on the principles of VS.

Although the environmental benefits of reducing one’s consumption are well documented, the mental health benefits of a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle - in terms of happiness (or “subjective well-being,” SWB) - are poorly understood in the sciences. As a result, the aim of this research is to discern the relationship between VS practice/behavior and happiness (SWB) at the individual level of analysis.

Within this process, a variety of methodologies will be employed and divided into 3 distinct phases. They include:

PHASE 1 – Literature Review

A comprehensive literature review of the two key concepts of VS and Happiness dating back to Ancient Greece aimed at defining these concepts.

PHASE 2 – Experimentation

SWB surveys of 200 respondents (broken up into two groups: a control group and a group that practices VS) using a variation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) taken twice over a 1 year period.

A visually documented self-study of the happiness benefits and ecological footprint reduction associated with downshifting over a 1 year period.

All of these methodologies will employ new media tools and the internet in their execution and the dissemination of the corresponding results and analysis.

Through these methodologies, the goal of the research is to answer the following question:

Are individuals who have chosen voluntary simplicity happier than the average person?