Money can buy the car you want, the house you want or whatever tops your “gotta have it” list, but can it buy happiness? A recent study suggests that it can – sort of.

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences released a study in January showing that when people are told they’re consuming an expensive product – this study used various brands of wine – they are

happier than when they consume a product they believe is inexpensive. But the study also found this happiness was short-lived.

Do money and the things it buys really make us happy, or is it a pseudo-happiness?

Since 1950s, the economic well-being of the average American has steadily increased, but the average American’s happiness has not followed suit.

“If money leads to happiness, we should be ecstatic,” said Terry Besser, professor of sociology.

So why aren’t we ecstatic? Why hasn’t money brought complete, uninhibited happiness to the average American?

“It’s partly a comparison phenomenon and partly an adaptation phenomenon,” said Susan Cross, associate professor of psychology.

Besser said, when people see others obtaining more money and possessions, dissatisfaction sets in. People compare themselves to others and are overwhelmed by a “have-not” mentality.

People’s perceptions also constantly adapt to new situations, so the happiness someone might get from a new car or a new dishwasher is never permanent.

“We adjust to that new level of happiness or stuff and need more to make us happy,” Cross said.

People whose happiness depends on money have a constant need for bigger and better toys, in the same way addicts have a need for bigger and bigger doses of their drug of choice.

“We’re forced onto this treadmill,” Besser said. “We can’t keep up with our friends. We can’t nurture our families because we’re caught up in that.”

If money can’t make us happy, what can?

Cross said good relationships can be a source of happiness, as can having a satisfying job in which you can use your gifts and talents.

An outward focus can also contribute to happiness. Besser said satisfaction can be found in “serving the greater good” of society, rather than being focused only on your own indulgence.

Besser and Cross both said spirituality can contribute to happiness. Cross said some studies have found that religious people report higher levels of happiness.

Spirituality is also associated with the idea of a higher order, and “those things really do appeal to people,” Besser said.

Wine study links happiness with prices

Antonio Rangel, associate economics professor at the California Institute of Technology, led a study to examine how marketing strategies impact perceived happiness.

Rangel and his team asked participants to sample five different kinds of wine, ranging in price from $5 to $90.Researchers documented what was going on in participant’s brains as they sampled the different wines. When participants were told they were drinking the $90 wine, the area of the brain that processes the emotion of happiness was more active.