AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Modern Wisdom
#873 - Lionel Page - The Invisible Psychology Of Happiness & Meaning
Dec 5, 2024
In this enlightening conversation, Lionel Page, a professor at the University of Queensland and evolutionary psychology expert, dives into the elusive nature of happiness. He reveals how social media influences our perceptions and leads to distorted self-assessments. Page discusses the paradox of pursuing high aspirations, often overshadowing true contentment, and emphasizes that happiness stems from personal growth, not wealth. He also explores the importance of community and evolutionary instincts in finding meaning in life.
01:30:52
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Happiness is often misunderstood due to fragmented studies, and should be viewed through an evolutionary lens that balances social needs with personal goals.
- Social comparison significantly impacts our happiness as individuals measure success against slightly superior peers, creating anxiety and constant reevaluation of achievements.
Deep dives
Understanding Happiness Through an Evolutionary Lens
Happiness is often misinterpreted and studied in fragmented ways, similar to blind individuals describing an elephant by only recognizing parts of it. Various self-help books propose different secrets to happiness, ranging from social connections to controlling desires, which leads to confusion about their interrelation. By adopting an evolutionary perspective, happiness can be understood as a system designed by evolution to aid decision-making, requiring a balance between social needs and personal goals. This broad framework allows for a cohesive understanding of happiness and its components, revealing that our subjective feelings are a navigation tool rather than definitive answers.
Get the Snipd
podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any
moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share
& Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered
podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode