Omadai Rajahlall

Dr. E. McCormick

26^th, September 2010

        Daniel Gilbert is an excellent professor of psychology at Harvard University and he studies happiness. Dr. Gilbert is a social psychologist who is known for his research with Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia on affective forecasting, with a special emphasis such as the impact bias. They are the first to identify the impact bias. This is when we think about some emotional event, we tend to overestimate how strongly we will feel, how long this will last and other factors that impact us. This applies to both positive and negative events. I couldn’t agree more with these two psychologists. The impact bias is indeed something I had personally experienced under more than one circumstances.

        An unforgettable impact bias I had experienced is when I migrated in the United States. I predicted and way overestimated the happiness, pleasure, easy and comfortable life that I would be living. It was one of my wildest dream and, at that time nothing else matter more but for me to move in the U.S. I used to dream of how easily I would be making the US dollars, shopping for all the latest in town and visiting all those beautiful places I saw on television. I would imagine how excited and fun it would be playing in the snow, because I’m from a tropical country. I used to call it the country of many dreams and opportunities. Indeed it is a country of many dreams and opportunities, but presently living here is nothing compared to what I had predicted. It is really not that easy, I have to work very hard and a lot of different and long hours to earn the US dollars. Most of my money disappeared into paying the bills and rent. I can’t afford to do a lot shopping and, it is impossible for me to actually get any time to visit places because I worked numerous hours. The little time that I have is all occupied for school and I have to work very hard to achieve a good grade. The first year I loved the snow but afterwards it was not that much fun anymore. The streets would eventually become very dirty and many people get injured due to the slippery ice. In addition, I have to wear a lot of clothes which I’m not accustomed to do. I had never anticipated and imagined that it would be difficult.

        Another incident of an impact bias I would never forget is when I decided to quit my first job. Before quitting the job, I had predicted and over-estimated many negative emotional feelings and thoughts. I thought that I would be in a very deep state of depression, like I wouldn’t be able to eat, sleep or do any fun activities in my life efficiently. It was a feeling as though my life would be meaningless, hopeless and sad. I stressed about how difficult it would be to pay the bills and rent. I even estimated that it would take a long time for me to find another job. I had no other choice but to quit the job because, I was working at a fast food restaurant and my supervisor was very rude and harsh to myself and other employees. It was a very unbearable depressing feeling going to work every day. Especially when my previous job was a respectable one from the country I immigrated from. However, after quitting the job and when it’s time for me to face reality, I realized it was not that bad at all. I felt very relaxed, peaceful and happy at home. I was really not as depressed as I thought, a matter of fact I had enough time to actually figure out what I was going to with the rest of my life. After two weeks I found another job which I enjoyed very much. I began working for a lot more and I even had enough time to go to school.

        Although living in the United States is not exactly what I had imagined, it is still worth it to live here. I enjoy living in the U.S a lot even though it’s a lot of hard work. Besides, I believed that hard work and determination is the key to success. Quitting my job turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. It was the new beginning of a new, progressive and prosperous future for me. The impact bias is something myself and everyone that I known had a few experiences of. This is the reason why I agree and support Dr. Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson one hundred percent on their studies and research on happiness, affective forecasting or the impact bias.

Hi!! my fellow Eng - 101 colleges..

You can call me Amanda because i know its easier for you to remember.  I work fulltime and attends college partime. My goal is to become a Nurse..I'm very friendly and understanding. I am also a very honest person and someone who you can trust. I am a straight forward person too. I take my work and education seriously because i know it will put me somewhere good.