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Overview

In 1921, an American psychologist named Lewis Terman started a study to find out the determining factors behind genius by observing precocious children. The study collected data on what kind of books they had in their homes and how they spent their free time. Over time, the study amassed a wealth of information about these children.

A study was conducted by Terman. It continued after his death and the researchers used it to answer questions about lifespan. One of their discoveries is that personality influences lifespan, but they also learned other things as well.

This passage is about how being conscientious can increase your life expectancy. It also explains why men benefit more from marriage than women, and the effect religion has on longevity.

Big Idea #1: Conscientiousness is a characteristic that helps ensure a long life.

Have you ever been teased by friends for being too organized and always playing it safe? If so, this may be a good thing because conscientious people tend to live longer.

One of the best predictors of longevity in children is conscientiousness, or carefulness. Even if they don’t develop this trait until later in life, people can still improve their conscientious behavior and have a positive impact on their health.

Dr. Terman considered the effects of his study on children when they were young and adults after 20 years had passed.

In a study conducted by Lewis Terman in the 1920s, two people were highlighted: one was conscientious and another wasn’t. Patricia remained that way until her death at age 90, while James wasn’t conscientious when he was younger but became so as he got older. In 20 years’ time, James had moved from the bottom 25% of conscientiousness to the top 25%. As a result, he lived well into old age. Researchers aren’t sure why being more careful leads to less disease and longer lives; they have three possible explanations for this phenomenon:

People who are conscientious by nature lead healthy lifestyles, and they don’t take risks.

There are two main reasons why some people are more optimistic than others. The first reason is that they have a better attitude and outlook on life, which is the result of their personality. They’re generally happier with themselves, have a positive self-image and tend to think positively about things in general. The other factor has to do with biology because some people naturally produce higher levels of serotonin, which helps keep them calm during stressful situations and prevents them from making irrational decisions or taking unnecessary risks.

Also, being conscientious can help you have healthier relationships. In fact, they’re happier and healthier individuals who attract partners that will keep them that way.

Big Idea #2: We shouldn’t confuse cheerfulness with happiness. Happiness stems from positive lifestyle choices.

A popular saying tells us that laughter is the best medicine. It can also help you deal with a cold or depression, as well as live longer.

The Terman study found that cheerful people were less likely to live a long life than their peers.

The common belief is that happy people live longer. However, it doesn’t follow that laughter means the person is happy. The study revealed that children who are cheerful often smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcohol than their peers who aren’t considered cheerful. For example, Paul was a child with an optimistic personality and was said to be worry-free despite his laughter.

Being cheerful is different from being happy. Happiness usually comes when you make the right lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking.