The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Happier Holidays: How to Give and Receive the Perfect Gift

Dec 7, 2020

In this festive discussion, Liz Dunn, a happiness researcher from UBC, and Nick Epley, a behavioral science expert from the University of Chicago, join Dr. Santos to unravel the complexities of gift-giving. They explore how emotional dynamics and shared experiences can trump material gifts in creating happiness. Listeners learn that anticipation enhances joy and the importance of thoughtful gestures like heartfelt notes. The conversation also addresses the role of empathy and gratitude, especially during tough times, in fostering meaningful connections.

30:07

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Episode guests

Nick Epley

Liz Dunn

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

The Psychology of Holiday Gifting

12min

The Joy of Anticipation in Gift-Giving

2min

Mindful Eating and Healthy Choices for the Holidays

3min

The Art of Thoughtful Gift-Giving

13min

Thoughtful Gift-Giving and Fostering Connections During the Holidays

4min

Exchanging holiday gifts is supposed to be joyful... but for many of us it is a source of stress, anxiety and hurt feelings. To transform the way you think about the act of giving and receiving presents, Dr Laurie Santos has gathered together the top experts in the field of happiness to share their tips, tricks and science-backed strategies. They even tackle the thorny issue of giving money in lieu of a present - with some surprising conclusions.

Joining Laurie for a festive Zoom party are Jamil Zaki from Stanford University, Liz Dunn from the University of British Columbia and Nick Epley from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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