The document discusses several key topics related to happiness studies:
- There has been an increase in studies on happiness conducted over the last two decades, especially by psychologists in the field of Positive Psychology.
- The document aims to identify the main correlates of happiness found in rigorous scientific studies and discuss the practical implications.
- Some correlates that have been found to correlate with increased happiness include communicating with close friends, caring for others through acts of volunteerism, regular exercise, experiencing flow through challenging activities, using one's strengths and virtues, spiritual engagement, and practicing positive thinking through optimism, gratitude, and savoring.
- For each correlate, the document discusses relevant studies, limitations, and philosophical parallels from historical figures
1. The Science of Happiness
Over the last two
decades, upsurge in
studies on happiness
Many studies
conducted by social
scientists specializing
in Positive
Psychology
Positive Psychology
and the Science of
Happiness: what’s the
difference?
2. The Correlates of Happiness
We are trying to
identify main
correlates of
happiness
Need for meta-
analyses or reviews of
key studies related to
each correlate
Need to select
scientifically rigorous
studies (RCT’s etc)
What are the
practical implications
of such studies
Communicating
Caring
Exercise
Getting in the flow
Spiritual Engagement
Strengths and virtues
Positive thinking:
Gratitude, savoring
and optimism
3. Communicating
People who have one or
more close friendships
appear to be happier
What seems to make a
significant difference is
cooperation in activities
and sharing of personal
feelings (successive
disclosure)
Philosophical
parallels: Aristotle
4. Caring
People who volunteer
or simply care for
others on a consistent
basis seem to be
happier and less
depressed
Studies on youth are
rare and show little
correlation
Is motivation a factor?
Philosophical
parallels: Buddha
and Mencius
5. Exercise
Regular exercise is
associated with
improved mental well-
being and a lower
incidence of
depression
Strongly suggested by
unprecedented
Cochrane review
Not a focus of Positive
Psychology, or
popular media until
recently
6. Getting in the flow
If we are deeply
involved in trying to
reach a goal, or an
activity that is
challenging but well
suited to our skills, we
experience a joyful
state called “flow.”
Philosophical
parallels: Zhuangzi
7. Strengths and virtues
Positive psychologists
like Martin Seligman
argue that the
happiest people are
those that have
discovered their
unique strengths and
virtues
More empirical
evidence needed
Philosophical
parallels are plentiful,
especially in classical
world: Socrates,
8. Spiritual Engagement
Participation in
spiritual activities
Significant increase in
happiness
independent from
social component
Possible reasons: The
question of meaning
and purpose
Philosophical
parallels: Viktor
Frankl, William James
9. Positive Thinking
Positive Thinking:
Optimism, Savoring,
and Gratitude
Mindfulness
The causation
conundrum
Philosophical
Parallels: Epicurus
and the Stoics
Hinweis der Redaktion
What’s the difference: Sceince of happiness includes many studies on well being by traditional social scientists on areas not covered by PP including exercise, volunteering etc.
We realised need to look at all the major studies on happiness and try to find the major implications: ie how can we summarize their discoveries and apply to our own experience. Many of these scientists don’t know how to publicize their work.
So meta analysis or reivew is very impo. We are trying to group togeter these studies into major areas and find common temes. We call these the corelates of happiness. Cochrane organziation is example of the power in large scale reviews, but they usually focus on pharmaceuticals. We are trying to do this on a smaller scale.
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