an insolent market that feels good?

“Smile at life and life will smile at you”, “every day is a new opportunity” or “happiness is within you”, so many aphorisms that boost our psyche in a positive way. Shelfhelp (helping oneself) has been translated by the term “personal development”, which illustrates this idea that one can find the resources of happiness and well-being within oneself. The business of happiness a very complete documentary made for art by Jean-Christophe Ribot, retraces the history of this positive thought, the new mantra of our Western societies.

A $3 billion market

Making people happy has become a profession legitimized by a self-made-man’s personal life experience and a profitable business. Anthony Robbins, one of the most famous coaches in the world, charges his one-week seminars between 6,000 and 10,000 dollars, for psychological service rendered. 70,000 coaches would be officially listed in the world for a market that represents 3 billion dollars.

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Coaches are now in competition with youtubers: the happy arrangement of the Japanese Marie Kondo, the advice of Lise Bourbeau and the positive attitude of Lena Situations panic social networks and publishing. Becoming the archetypal super happy human being can be learned. In the United States alone, there are more than 80,000 references on the subject, it is specified in The business of happiness, on art.

A snub to Freud and the study of neuroses

Personal development is not just a fad. It is based on a real science of positive psychology launched by Martin Seligman, American researcher and university professor, a great specialist in depression. Breaking with Freudianism, positive psychology seeks to compensate for the lack of tangible results from the study of childhood neuroses and traumas. Donald O. Clifton, professor of psychology, made a fortune with a method that allows you to develop your 5 inner forces among the 34 proposed. Marketed by the management company Gallup, its psychological approach has been adopted by 90% of the 500 largest American companies that value a sense of responsibility and leadership.

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Positive psychology also finds development in the education of children. Psychologist and teacher, Lea Waters has implemented techniques allowing children to put words to their emotions in order to better recognize them and be able to regulate them.

When the BIB taunts the GDP

In Europe, the concept of positive psychology has infiltrated business management, managing the moods and happiness of employees appearing as an investment for enhanced productivity. The chief happiness officer represents the jovial face of entrepreneurship. If the documentary ofart gives the floor to psychiatrist Christophe André, cantor of positive psychology, he also makes room for criticism. Sociologist Éva Illouz, author of happycracy, moderates the enthusiasms: “This positivity is another name for docility and discipline. We accept, and through the alchemy of positivism, we even see opportunities to develop and flourish.“.

philosopher and author of (Im)personal development – The success of a shamJulia de Funès explains, “Nothing is more impersonal than personal development. It always relies on the same psychological spring, that which Freud called the “narcissism of small differences”. We aim for fulfillment through happy artifices: colorful poufs, green roofs, table football, organic smoothies… We drown out negativity with “Language Soupline”, by sweetening reality with sweet words”.

Martin Seligman found a powerful ally in Great Britain, in the person of Sir Richard Layard, economist and founder of the CEP (Centre for Economic Performance) who succeeded in registering well-being in national statistics. The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) indicator is now accompanied by the BIB (Gross Domestic Happiness). Paradoxically, psychological distress at work and cases of burnout have never been so numerous.

So are we the image of an accomplished society where happiness is finally at the heart of concerns? Or is positivism just the mask of a new servitude? Without deciding, The business of happiness provides serious food for thought.