The Unplanned Podcast with Matt & Abby Harvard Professor: Why marriages fail & the science of happiness w/ Arthur Brooks
Dec 3, 2025
Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and bestselling author, dives into the intriguing science of happiness and marriage. He shares his journey into studying happiness and defines marriage as a mutual growth experience. Discussing key needs that sustain relationships, he emphasizes the importance of admiration and adoration. Brooks suggests practical tools for maintaining bonding, such as nightly eye contact and touch, and explores how suffering can lead to growth in relationships. He also addresses the role of spirituality and personal resilience in enhancing happiness.
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Camino Moment That Changed A Career
- Arthur C. Brooks walked the Camino de Santiago with his wife and decided to dedicate his career to studying happiness.
- His wife's suggestion to study happiness became his life's mission to serve others and find meaning.
Half Your Happiness Is Genetic
- About half of your natural happiness is genetic, shown by identical-twin studies.
- That means people with lower baseline happiness need stronger habits to manage well-being.
The Five-Year Peak In Marriages
- Marital dissatisfaction often peaks around year five as passion shifts to companionship.
- Couples who embrace companionate love typically improve after that peak.
