Psychology of Happiness A
Summary of the Theory & Research
I will admit that when I learned that I was to write an article on the
psychology, theory, and science of happiness, I thought “easy!”.
Little did I know the overwhelming depth of this topic! I found myself
asking questions – can science explain happiness?
Can happiness be measured? What is happiness, anyway?
Arguably, a lot has been written on the topic of happiness, including
on this website. The following provides an exploration of happiness,
and, importantly, it provides you with links to further resources on
this important topic.
Keep reading to discover a range of topics including the main
theories of happiness, and a fascinating look at the neuroscience of
happiness, as well as an interesting discussion on topics such as
subjective wellbeing (the more scientific term for happiness), what
positive psychology has to say about happiness, success and
happiness, and more. Hopefully, it will answer some questions about
happiness. Please enjoy!
Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our 3
Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free. These creative,
science-based exercises will help you learn more about your values,
motivations and goals and will give you the tools to inspire a sense
of meaning and happiness in the lives of your clients, students or
employees.
This Article Contains:
A Scientific Explanation of Happiness
A Look at the Theory and Science of Happiness
The Psychology of Happiness
Happiness and Positive Psychology
Interesting Research and Studies
The Happiness Research Institute
The Happiness Professor
Other Well-known Researchers
Articles on Success and Happiness
16 Most Important Happiness Articles
Other Recommended Journal and Scholarly Articles (PDF)
, A Take-Home Message
References
A Scientific Explanation of Happiness
What exactly do we mean when we talk about a scientific
explanation of happiness? What, in fact, is the science of happiness?
Put very simply, the science of happiness looks at “what makes
happy people happy” (Pursuit of Happiness, 2018). If you think
about it, the subjective nature of happiness makes it incredibly
difficult to define and also challenging to measure (Kringelbach &
Berridge, 2010).
Let’s look into this further …
In the past
Happiness has been the topic of discussion and debate since the
ancient Greek times. Hedonism has a long history (Ryan & Deci,
2001). Science has looked closely at happiness as ‘hedonically’
defined – or, in other words, happiness is the outcome of the pursuit
of pleasure over pain (Ryan & Deci, 2001).
Aristippus, a Greek philosopher from the 4th century BC claimed
happiness was the sum of life’s ‘hedonic’ moments (Ryan & Deci,
2001). Hedonic enjoyment is a state whereby an individual feels
relaxed, has a sense of distance from their problems and, can be
said to feel ‘happy’ (Ryan & Deci, 2001).
Since the days of Aristotle, happiness has been conceptualized as
being composed of at least 2 aspects – hedonia (or, pleasure)
and eudaimonia (a sense that life is well-lived) (Kringelbach &
Berridge, 2010).
In the present
What does science say about this? Well, research has shown that,
whilst these two aspects are definitely distinct and that, in ‘happy’
people, both hedonic and eudaimonic components of happiness
correspond (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
, A study by Kesebir and Diener (2008) report that in
happiness surveys, more than 80% of interviewees rated their
overall ‘eudaimonic’ life satisfaction as “pretty to very happy” and,
at the same time, 80% of people interviewed also rate their current,
hedonic ‘mood’ as positive (e.g. giving a rating of 6-7 on a 10-point
valence scale, where 5 is ‘hedonically neutral’).
Neuroscientists have made substantial progress into investigating
the functional neuroanatomy of pleasure (which, according to
Kringelbach and Berridge 2010, makes an important contribution to
our experience of happiness and plays a key role in our sense of
wellbeing).
Pleasure has, for many years in the discipline of psychology, been
closely associated with happiness (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
According to Sigmund Freud (1930), people: ‘strive after happiness;
they want to become happy and to remain so. This endeavor has
two sides, a positive and a negative aim. It aims, on the one hand,
at an absence of pain and displeasure, and, on the other, at the
experiencing of strong feelings of pleasure’ (p. 76).
Kringelbach and Berridge (2010) argue that the neuroscience of
both pleasure and happiness can be found by studying hedonic
brain circuits. This is because, according to most modern
perspectives, pleasure is an important component of happiness.
Does this provide the opportunity to ‘measure’ happiness, therefore
providing a scientific explanation of happiness?
In fact, work of neuroscientists has found that pleasure is not merely
a sensation, or thought, but rather an outcome of brain activity in
dedicated ‘hedonic systems’ (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
All pleasures, from the most fundamental (food, sexual pleasure)
right through to higher-order pleasures (e.g. monetary, medical, and
altruistic pleasures) seem to involve the same brain systems
(Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
Some of the hedonic mechanisms are found deep within the brain
(the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and brainstem) and
Summary of the Theory & Research
I will admit that when I learned that I was to write an article on the
psychology, theory, and science of happiness, I thought “easy!”.
Little did I know the overwhelming depth of this topic! I found myself
asking questions – can science explain happiness?
Can happiness be measured? What is happiness, anyway?
Arguably, a lot has been written on the topic of happiness, including
on this website. The following provides an exploration of happiness,
and, importantly, it provides you with links to further resources on
this important topic.
Keep reading to discover a range of topics including the main
theories of happiness, and a fascinating look at the neuroscience of
happiness, as well as an interesting discussion on topics such as
subjective wellbeing (the more scientific term for happiness), what
positive psychology has to say about happiness, success and
happiness, and more. Hopefully, it will answer some questions about
happiness. Please enjoy!
Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our 3
Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free. These creative,
science-based exercises will help you learn more about your values,
motivations and goals and will give you the tools to inspire a sense
of meaning and happiness in the lives of your clients, students or
employees.
This Article Contains:
A Scientific Explanation of Happiness
A Look at the Theory and Science of Happiness
The Psychology of Happiness
Happiness and Positive Psychology
Interesting Research and Studies
The Happiness Research Institute
The Happiness Professor
Other Well-known Researchers
Articles on Success and Happiness
16 Most Important Happiness Articles
Other Recommended Journal and Scholarly Articles (PDF)
, A Take-Home Message
References
A Scientific Explanation of Happiness
What exactly do we mean when we talk about a scientific
explanation of happiness? What, in fact, is the science of happiness?
Put very simply, the science of happiness looks at “what makes
happy people happy” (Pursuit of Happiness, 2018). If you think
about it, the subjective nature of happiness makes it incredibly
difficult to define and also challenging to measure (Kringelbach &
Berridge, 2010).
Let’s look into this further …
In the past
Happiness has been the topic of discussion and debate since the
ancient Greek times. Hedonism has a long history (Ryan & Deci,
2001). Science has looked closely at happiness as ‘hedonically’
defined – or, in other words, happiness is the outcome of the pursuit
of pleasure over pain (Ryan & Deci, 2001).
Aristippus, a Greek philosopher from the 4th century BC claimed
happiness was the sum of life’s ‘hedonic’ moments (Ryan & Deci,
2001). Hedonic enjoyment is a state whereby an individual feels
relaxed, has a sense of distance from their problems and, can be
said to feel ‘happy’ (Ryan & Deci, 2001).
Since the days of Aristotle, happiness has been conceptualized as
being composed of at least 2 aspects – hedonia (or, pleasure)
and eudaimonia (a sense that life is well-lived) (Kringelbach &
Berridge, 2010).
In the present
What does science say about this? Well, research has shown that,
whilst these two aspects are definitely distinct and that, in ‘happy’
people, both hedonic and eudaimonic components of happiness
correspond (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
, A study by Kesebir and Diener (2008) report that in
happiness surveys, more than 80% of interviewees rated their
overall ‘eudaimonic’ life satisfaction as “pretty to very happy” and,
at the same time, 80% of people interviewed also rate their current,
hedonic ‘mood’ as positive (e.g. giving a rating of 6-7 on a 10-point
valence scale, where 5 is ‘hedonically neutral’).
Neuroscientists have made substantial progress into investigating
the functional neuroanatomy of pleasure (which, according to
Kringelbach and Berridge 2010, makes an important contribution to
our experience of happiness and plays a key role in our sense of
wellbeing).
Pleasure has, for many years in the discipline of psychology, been
closely associated with happiness (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
According to Sigmund Freud (1930), people: ‘strive after happiness;
they want to become happy and to remain so. This endeavor has
two sides, a positive and a negative aim. It aims, on the one hand,
at an absence of pain and displeasure, and, on the other, at the
experiencing of strong feelings of pleasure’ (p. 76).
Kringelbach and Berridge (2010) argue that the neuroscience of
both pleasure and happiness can be found by studying hedonic
brain circuits. This is because, according to most modern
perspectives, pleasure is an important component of happiness.
Does this provide the opportunity to ‘measure’ happiness, therefore
providing a scientific explanation of happiness?
In fact, work of neuroscientists has found that pleasure is not merely
a sensation, or thought, but rather an outcome of brain activity in
dedicated ‘hedonic systems’ (Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
All pleasures, from the most fundamental (food, sexual pleasure)
right through to higher-order pleasures (e.g. monetary, medical, and
altruistic pleasures) seem to involve the same brain systems
(Kringelbach & Berridge, 2010).
Some of the hedonic mechanisms are found deep within the brain
(the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and brainstem) and
