# 374 - Is generosity the key to happiness - Prof Lara Aknin

Prof Lara Aknin is the director of the Helping and Happiness Lab at Simon Fraser University. She studies what makes people live happier and healthier lives. What a fascinating area of research and so given the fact that this podcast is all about striving to acquire a greater state of happiness, through fulfilling routines, self-improvement and health and wellbeing I thought it would be more the interesting to hear Prof Aknin's thoughts.

In this episode we ask about the effect generosity has on our levels of happiness.

We ask if people who work in service of others, like nurses for example, we ask if they are more predisposed to being happy by virtue of serving or giving of their time and energies to others.

We also pose the question, does being generous make you happier or are happier people just more generous ?

Prof Aknin tells us about her goodybag paradigm.

We explore generosity across cultures and socio-economic sectors of humanity.

We hear about the generosity of children and what conclusions can be drawn from.

Expect to hear the purpose underlying our desire to give to others.

Plus expect to hear the distinction between giver and receiver centric gifts, something which I think will give people pause for thought before they buy their next gift for a friend or family member.

https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/about/people/current-faculty/laknin.html

https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/research/hhl.html