Marty Seligman is the researcher behind a famous experiment that we've talked about before in the happiness lab. He didn't just concentrate on what could break our spirits and cause us misery; he wanted to unlock the opposite. In doing so, he laid the foundation for the scientific study of happiness.
When Marty Seligman started his long scientific career, psychologists concentrated on studying "misery and suffering" and what made people sad. But Marty wanted to discover what made happy people, well, happy. His research laid the foundations of "positive psychology" and the happiness science you hear week after week in this podcast.
Dr Laurie Santos talks to Professor Seligman about his decades of research; the power of optimism; and how he became less of a "grouch" to improve his own personal happiness.
Marty's latest book, TOMORROWMIND: Thriving At Work – Now and in an Uncertain Future, is OUT NOW.
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