What does happiness really mean, and can it be measured?

In this episode, we move from Aristotle’s eudaimonia to brain scans, surveys, big data, and what truly lifts our mood.

It asks why money only helps so much, why social ties matter, and how trust shapes national well-being.

Pleasure versus purpose happiness: Aristotle and flourishing
Subjective well-being: life satisfaction, positive and negative emotions
Surveys measure happiness; beware the memory and peak-end rule
Experience sampling measures happiness in the moment
Findings: happiest socialising, exercising, flow; least during commuting, illness
Money boosts happiness, then flattens at higher incomes
Social connections increase happiness; loneliness harms, especially during Covid
Household size and eating alone trends in happiness
Trust in others, institutions, and wallet return beliefs
Caring for others versus expecting care from others

Full interactive transcript, subtitles and key vocabulary available on the website: https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts/science-of-happiness

Read the World Happiness Report here: https://www.worldhappiness.report/

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