Professor Elizabeth Dunn from UBC discusses how money can indeed buy happiness, sharing insights from her book 'Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending'. They explore strategies for maximizing happiness from spending, the impact of income increase, and the importance of generosity and social connection in relation to wealth and well-being.

How do we really get happier? In a new review in the journal Nature Human Behavior, researchers Elizabeth Dunn and Dunigan Folk found that many common strategies for increasing our happiness may not be supported by strong evidence. In today's Short Wave episode, Dunn tells co-host Aaron Scott about changes in the way scientists are conducting research, and how these changes led her team to re-examine previous work in the field of psychology. Want to hear Dunn read the paper? Check it out here. Questions? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia, shares insights from her research on happiness and well-being. She critiques common happiness strategies, pointing out the lack of solid research behind them. Dunn emphasizes effective methods like expressing gratitude and fostering social connections. She discusses how small, consistent actions can gradually improve happiness and explores the impact of mindful spending on overall well-being. Tune in for practical tips to boost your happiness backed by science!

Dr. Elizabeth Dunn, Professor of Psychology, discusses the link between money and happiness. They explore happiness research, the relationship between money and parenting, and strategies for promoting happiness. They define happiness and discuss the future of happiness research including pre-registered experiments. Investing in experiences for happy money and the principle of hedonic adaptation are also discussed.

Social psychologist Elizabeth Dunn discusses the relationship between money, generosity, and happiness in a fascinating study where $10,000 was given to random recipients. The results reveal the impact of active generosity on well-being and the joy of giving. The conversation delves into the significance of strategic philanthropy and cultural differences in charitable giving.