HAPPINESS

Finding the Spice in the Sugar

• ….that is, what is the highest of all the
goods that action can achieve. As far
as the name goes, we may almost say
that the great majority of mankind are
agreed about this; for both the
multitude and persons of refinement
speak of it as Happiness, and
conceive ‘the good life’ or ‘doing well’
to be the same thing as ‘being happy.’

-Nicomachean Ethics (1.4)

Domain Effects

WORK

LOVE

HEALTH

Psychological Bulletin. 2005; 131, 803-855.

 Components

• Hedonia: Happiness is
all about minimising pain
and maximising
pleasure.

• Eudaimonia: Happiness
is satisfaction with life as
a whole.
Hedonic Hotspots and Hedonic Circuits
 Determinants

Intentional
Set Point 50%
Activity
Fixed
40%
Variable Genetic

Circumstances 10%
Relatively Fixed
Compassion

Neural correlates of compassion

PNAS. 2009;106:8021-8026
Matthieu Ricard
Cascade of Cooperative Behaviour
PNAS. 2010;107:5334-5338
 Gratitude

• Gratitude originates from the perception

of a positive personal outcome, not
necessarily deserved or earned, that is
due to the actions of another person.
Gratitude

• Once a week list 5 things

you are grateful for

• Promotes savoring of
positive life experiences
and situations

• Develops positive
memory bias

• May counteract hedonic

adaptation
Research Findings

Alert, Energetic, Enthused,

PSYCHOLOGICAL Attentive

More exercise, Better sleep,

PHYSICAL Fewer Symptoms

More helpful and connected,

MENTAL Less lonely and isolated

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2003; 84: 377-389.

Else