The article challenges the theory that happiness is relative, which suggests that happiness depends on subjective comparisons rather than objective conditions. This theory is based on three postulates: happiness results from comparison, comparison standards adjust, and these standards are arbitrary. It predicts that happiness is unaffected by real quality of life, that changes in living conditions have only short-term effects on happiness, that people are happier after hardship, and that people are typically neutral about their lives. However, the article refutes these claims, arguing that people are generally positive about their lives, adverse conditions like poverty and war lead to unhappiness, and improvements in conditions can have lasting effects on happiness. The theory is criticized for confusing 'overall happiness' with 'contentment,' which is based on comparison. Overall happiness, the article argues, also depends on affective well-being and the satisfaction of basic bio-psychological needs, which are not relative and set limits on human adaptability. The article concludes that happiness is not purely relative and that the theory contradicts common beliefs about the importance of improving living conditions to enhance well-being.The article challenges the theory that happiness is relative, which suggests that happiness depends on subjective comparisons rather than objective conditions. This theory is based on three postulates: happiness results from comparison, comparison standards adjust, and these standards are arbitrary. It predicts that happiness is unaffected by real quality of life, that changes in living conditions have only short-term effects on happiness, that people are happier after hardship, and that people are typically neutral about their lives. However, the article refutes these claims, arguing that people are generally positive about their lives, adverse conditions like poverty and war lead to unhappiness, and improvements in conditions can have lasting effects on happiness. The theory is criticized for confusing 'overall happiness' with 'contentment,' which is based on comparison. Overall happiness, the article argues, also depends on affective well-being and the satisfaction of basic bio-psychological needs, which are not relative and set limits on human adaptability. The article concludes that happiness is not purely relative and that the theory contradicts common beliefs about the importance of improving living conditions to enhance well-being.