The Effect of Corruption Priming on Happiness and Negative Emotions

ABSTRACT The 2023 World Happiness Report revealed that Israel had risen from ninth to fourth place in the global happiness index, with the absence of corruption identified as a significant contributing factor. Given the ongoing public discourse surrounding corruption in Israel, this study aimed to isolate and examine the specific impact of corruption perception on subjective happiness and negative emotions. The research employed a priming methodology across four groups ( N = 249) to investigate the relationship between corruption perception, happiness, and negative emotions. Results indicated a significant link between corruption perception and increased levels of negative emotions. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of considering an individual's political stance, as those aligned with the current opposition exhibited higher levels of negative emotions. These findings underscore the need for policymakers to consider both happiness and negative emotion indices, alongside prevailing perceptions of corruption, to foster integrity within governmental systems and promote a stable and corruption‐free society.