As the researchers point out, perhaps the most important question is not how to be happy, but how we can increase the happiness around us. Because, in the end, it comes back to us.
It seems that everyone from Buddhist monks to positive psychologists and from the creator of Snoopy to the Beatles has had their say on what it means. happiness. Whether you think you’ll find it in the furry warmth of a puppy, a prescription for Prozac, or the pages of self-improvement books, chances are you’re craving it more and more.
Nevertheless, happiness remains one of the least studied human emotions. This is because it is not a “treatable” problem like sadness, anger or fear. It seems more appropriate for greeting cards than “serious” science. But this is suddenly changing the number of researchers is increasingamong them several from his School of Medicine Harvarduncover the unexpected information about its nature.
What does “happiness” actually mean?
The concept of happiness is not uniform. OR Nancy EtcoffA professor of psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital explains that this can be done in three ways. Like a sense of taste, a way of thinking or an attitude towards life. It can be optimism, joy, gratitude, or just a general sense of well-being.
Psychiatrist George Weiland It makes a significant difference from Brigham and Women’s Hospital. For him, “happiness” is one instant gratification, such as when we satisfy a need. Instead, “joy” is deeper and has to do with our relationships with others. It is more permanent and less conscious.
“Imagine you’re driving down the highway hungry, you see a McDonald’s Golden Arches, and you stop for a Big Mac. It makes you ‘happy,'” Weiland explains. However, this satisfaction is fleeting. This is a conscious state that originates from the neocortex (the logic center): you eat and think rationally “I feel good”.
OR joy but in his opinion, it is much more complex and visceral. It’s a “warm” feeling when you hear it your child’s laughter or when you hug a puppy. “Joy comes from it our connection with otherss,” Weiland emphasizes. “He’s a a subconscious experience born in the limbic system (center of emotions). Unlike happiness, joy doesn’t require thought—you just feel it—and its effects are more lasting over time.
Because learning is hard
OR scientific research has historically been more focused negative emotions such as sadness, depression and anxiety. Mainly because they are considered “problems” that require diagnosis and treatment. As noted by experts, medicine and psychology as their main mission troubleshooting the one who leaves less room for the study of positive states such as happiness.
Compared to depression, which has clear symptoms and treatment protocols, happiness seems more abstract, less “urgent” and harder to measure with scientific instruments.
OR Nancy Etcoff The professor of psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital emphasizes that the concept of happiness itself is an “umbrella” covering various experiences. From instant gratification to a deeper sense of meaning and fulfillment in life. This creates complexity it is difficult to clearly define and furthermore to describe scientifically.
At the same time, our evolutionary path has “wired” our brains to prefer negative stimuli. As Etkoff explains, humans evolved in a dangerous environment where recognition of danger was critical to survival. As a result, the brain is more sensitive to fear, loss, and pain than to positive emotions.
It’s innate”A “bias” against negativity makes happiness not only difficult to learnbut also more fragile as an experience. Positive emotions are often accompanied by weakness, because joy can easily turn into disappointment. As Weiland points out, even the strongest positive emotions are often associated with tearsit highlights their emotional complexity.
Biology and the limits of happiness
Scientists have come to some important conclusions:
- Happiness is partly influenced by genetics
- The brain is more sensitive to negative emotions
- People return to their “baseline” level of happiness after major changes
A study from the University of Minnesota twins showed that people with shared DNA had similar levels of happiness even when they grew up apart.
Money, appearance and reality
Contrary to popular belief, neither money nor looks guarantee happiness.
Studies show that:
- Income growth improves morale only up to a point (about $75,000 per year)
- Looking attractive does not necessarily bring more satisfaction in life
the people they adapt quickly to both positive and negative events. Even people who won the lottery or had severe disabilities ended up with similar levels of happiness over time.
The power of relationships
The most a consistent finding is that happiness is primarily related to human relationships. OR long-term grant education, showed that the capacity for love and meaningful relationships is the most important factor in life satisfaction.
At the same time, Mr Ichiro Kawauchi Professor of Medicine at Harvard, istrong link between happiness and physical health.
Happiness is contagious – that’s the secret
One of the most The surprising results of modern research are that happiness is not just an individual matterbut it can function as a “social phenomenon”. spread from person to person. Sociologist and doctor Nicholas Christakis A professor of medical sociology at Harvard, he collaborates with a political scientist James Fowler from the University of California, widely studied the way that emotions circulate on social networks.
Their findings show that Happiness can be “information” as a behavior or habit. If a person experiences positive emotions, this increases the probability has a positive effect on the people around him. In particular, if a close friend is happy and lives nearby—even within a radius of about a mile and a half—our chances of feeling happy increase markedly.
This phenomenon not limited to close friendships. It is observed among neighbors, siblings who live nearby, and also among partners. This is more interesting the effect does not stop in the immediate environment: positive mood can also be transmitted to people with whom we are not directly connected through common acquaintances or wider social circles.
Emotions work like “waves” in social networks
As Christakis explains, emotions work like “waves” in social networks. When someone’s mood changes for the better, that’s it change can cause a chain reaction. Just as stress or pessimism affects a group, optimism and joy have the power to spread.
The difference is that Unlike disease, the “contagion” of happiness is beneficial both for the person who lives it and for those who “receive” it. It is essentially a positive social dynamic that fosters group cohesion and well-being.
These findings lead to an important conclusion. Our personal attitude affects not only our lives, but also the lives of others. Small changes in our daily lives, such as an expression of kindness, empathy, or gratitude, can have a wider impact than we imagine, creating a “web” of positive emotions around us.
The road to happiness
Happiness is not a big event, but the result of small, everyday experiences. OR gratitude, giving and connection with others they play a decisive role. As the researchers point out, perhaps the most important question is not how to be happy, but how we can increase the happiness around us. Because, in the end, it comes back to us.
SOURCE: Harvard Medicine