Are we happier in ignorance? Finnish psychological researchers have developed an assessment tool to gauge individuals’ commitment to social justice principles, uncovering surprising results, including a negative correlation between progressive ideals and happiness levels.
Published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, their findings suggest similar patterns may exist in other Western nations. Oskari Lahtinen, a senior researcher at the University of Turku, noted the influence of “woke” discourse in Finland and the need for empirical study in this area.
Their research trajectory involved extensive reading on intersectional feminism, critical race theory, and other relevant disciplines. The final Critical Social Justice Attitude Scale identified seven truisms of woke people, shedding light on gender divides and mental health implications.
While cautioning against broad generalizations, Lahtinen encouraged further research to validate these findings, particularly in North American contexts.
