Cognitive scientist Laurie Santos delves into the science of happiness, discussing re-training our brains for better choices and habits to achieve true contentment. Topics include debunking happiness myths, the power of vulnerability in building connections, classroom exercises for promoting happiness, strategies for addressing unhappiness, and the importance of parental honesty in nurturing emotional bonds.
Our innate negativity bias can detract from experiencing happiness, emphasizing the need to reevaluate our approach.
Material success may overshadow true happiness, highlighting the importance of social connections and genuine moments.
Deep dives
Understanding Natural Selection and Happiness
Natural selection prioritizes survival, not happiness. Laurie Santos explores how our innate negativity bias can detract from experiencing happiness. Misconceptions about happiness often lead us astray, emphasizing the importance of reevaluating our approach to achieving true contentment.
Material Success and Emotional Fulfillment
While material success can be important for basic needs, it often comes at the expense of true happiness. Laurie Santos highlights that accomplishments may overshadow the experiences that truly bring joy, emphasizing the significance of social connections and genuine moments of contentment.
Teaching Strategies for Happiness
Laurie Santos' course Psychology and the Good Life addresses misconceptions about happiness and encourages evidence-based practices. By assigning 'rewirements' as homework, students engage in behaviors and mindset shifts for happiness, demonstrating a potential point increase in happiness levels after the course.
Finding Happiness Amid Challenges
In a time of significant global challenges, including climate change and economic uncertainties, fostering happiness becomes crucial. Emphasizing the resilience of young individuals and the effectiveness of happiness strategies, Laurie Santos advocates for prioritizing emotional well-being in combating societal issues.
Have you ever wondered: What does it mean to be truly happy? Can our brain chemistry, or even our genetics, determine how we feel about our lives? And, most importantly, can we learn to be even happier? Cognitive scientist and Yale University Psychology Professor Laurie Santos has spent her career researching these questions. As the host of The Happiness Lab, Laurie has gone on her own journey to discover what it truly means to be happy. On today’s podcast episode, Professor Santos will share her findings and how she says we can re-train our brains to make better choices, build better habits, and ultimately, be happier.