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What Science Says About Money and Happiness | Dr. Elizabeth Dunn

Oct 30, 2023

Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, discusses how our spending habits impact happiness. She emphasizes prioritizing experiences over material goods for greater life satisfaction. Dunn critiques traditional happiness strategies, revealing their limitations while promoting the joy of giving through a unique social experiment. Additionally, she explores mindful spending and the benefits of 'buying time' to enhance well-being, leaving listeners with valuable insights on aligning finances with happiness.

01:02:18

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Episode guests

Elizabeth Dunn

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Quick takeaways

Smart spending of money can actually boost happiness.

Spending money on experiences leads to more happiness than buying material things.

Receiving money increases happiness, with lower-income countries experiencing greater impact and recipients showing generosity towards others.

Deep dives

Money and Happiness

Using money in a smart way can actually boost happiness.

Investing in Others

01:26

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Meditation and Neuroscience Research: Exploring Methodological Rigor

01:34

Defining Happiness: Subjective Well-being

00:52

Intro

2min

Exploring the Intersection of Wealth and Well-Being

2min

Rethinking Happiness Research

20min

Exploring the Science of Happiness and Well-Being

4min

The Generosity Experiment: Unpacking Happiness through Giving

17min

Experiences Over Things: The True Path to Happiness

20min

Exploring Happiness Through Money and Generosity

2min

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How to spend your money in ways that will really boost your happiness and a look at the state of happiness research.

Dr. Elizabeth Dunn is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Dunn conducts experimental research examining how time, money, and technology shape human happiness. She is the co-author of “Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending” with Dr. Michael Norton. Her research has been featured in The New York Times, Time, CNN, and more.

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10% Happier with Dan Harris

What Science Says About Money and Happiness | Dr. Elizabeth Dunn

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Money and Happiness

Questioning Happiness Research

Buying Experiences

The Future of Happiness Research

The Mystery Experiment

Investing in Others

Snip

Meditation and Neuroscience Research: Exploring Methodological Rigor

Defining Happiness: Subjective Well-being

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts