The science of happiness with Laurie Santos | How to Be a Better Human | Ted Talks Daily

Intro

In this episode of the “Ted Talks Daily” podcast, titled “The science of happiness with Laurie Santos | How to Be a Better Human,” the host celebrates the podcast’s success as one of Spotify’s top 10 most listened to podcasts in 2023. The host shares his personal experience of finding happiness in possibilities and excitement rather than solely focusing on accomplishments. The guest, Laurie Santos, is the creator of the Happiness Lab podcast and a psychology professor at Yale University. Santos discusses her research on human happiness, which was inspired by her work with monkeys and their economic decisions during the financial collapse. This episode explores the science behind happiness and provides actionable strategies for living a happier life.

Main Takeaways

The Science of Happiness

• Happiness is often elusive when pursued directly; it is described as a slippery fish that can’t be easily captured.
• Laurie Santos’ interest in exploring human happiness stemmed from her work with animals, particularly monkeys.
• Santos and her team studied monkeys’ economic decisions and observed their behavior during the financial collapse, finding similarities to human biases.

Misconceptions About Happiness

• Humans are prone to biases and often misunderstand what truly brings them happiness.
• High-achieving students at prestigious universities can experience profound unhappiness.
• The college student mental health crisis is a national issue, with high rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

Strategies for Happiness

• Psychology offers strategies to alleviate stress and depression, which can be taught to students.
• Toxic positivity and the myth of being happy all the time can hinder our understanding of happiness.
• Emotions, including negative ones, serve as signals guiding our behavior and indicating a need for change.
• Practices such as gratitude, being present in the moment, and helping others can significantly increase happiness.

Reframing Happiness

• Happiness isn’t a zero-sum game; doing nice things for others increases our own happiness.
• Removing negatives and adding positives contribute to overall well-being.
• Increasing social connections and having more free time can lead to greater happiness.
• Focusing too much on money or income can lead to stress and unhappiness.

Summary

The Science of Happiness

Laurie Santos, a psychology professor at Yale University, became interested in studying human happiness through her work with monkeys. She and her team conducted experiments on monkeys’ economic decisions and observed their behavior during the financial collapse. This research revealed that monkeys, like humans, display biases and tendencies to socially compare themselves with others, impacting their happiness and well-being. Santos’ exploration of animal happiness influenced her understanding of human happiness.

Misconceptions About Happiness

Humans often have misconceptions about what truly brings them happiness. High-achieving students at prestigious universities can experience profound unhappiness, highlighting the college student mental health crisis. Educators need to address student mental health to fulfill their educational mission. Psychology offers strategies to alleviate stress and depression, which can be taught to students. It is important to debunk the myth of being happy all the time and recognize that negative emotions are important signals indicating a need for change or action.

Strategies for Happiness

Various strategies can significantly increase happiness. Practices such as gratitude, being present in the moment, and helping others have been shown to boost well-being. A free online class on well-being demonstrated significant increases in well-being scores through real practice, not just positive thinking. It is essential to ensure that happiness advice is scientifically rigorous and not just “snake oil.” Small but consistent increases in self-reported happiness suggest that these practices can work. Additionally, social connection plays a crucial role in happiness, regardless of one’s personality profile.

Reframing Happiness

Happiness isn’t solely about personal accomplishments or material wealth. Doing nice things for others increases our own happiness, even if it goes against our intuition. Increasing social connections and having more free time, known as “time affluence,” can contribute to greater happiness. It is important to focus on removing negatives from our lives and adding positives, such as social connections, rather than solely pursuing financial success. Beyond a certain income level, more money doesn’t significantly increase happiness. Spending money to save time, such as on takeout or cleaning services, can lead to greater happiness.

Conclusion

Understanding the science of happiness and debunking misconceptions about what brings true happiness can lead to a more fulfilling life. Strategies such as gratitude, being present in the moment, and helping others can significantly increase well-being. By reframing our understanding of happiness and prioritizing social connections and time affluence, we can experience greater happiness and overall well-being. It is crucial to prioritize mental health and address the college student mental health crisis to create a happier and healthier society.