Latest

happiness

·August 3, 2024·4 min read

Overthinking Happiness Can Lower Life Satisfaction

Obsessing over personal happiness can actually decrease life satisfaction, according to new research. In three studies involving over 1,800 participants, individuals who judged their own happiness reported lower well-being, increased negativity, and more disappointment in positive events.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 2, 2024·4 min read

Environmental Toxins Shorten Happy Lifespans

Researchers made a groundbreaking discovery linking environmental contaminants to a reduced span of emotional wellbeing. By utilizing a novel risk assessment tool, the study calculates the loss of happy life expectancy (LHpLE) due to exposure to environmental carcinogens like radon, arsenic, and fine particulate matter, and psychological distress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 11, 2024·5 min read

Happiness Takes Practice

Happiness can indeed be learned through courses like their 'Science of Happiness', which educates students on evidence-informed habits for well-being. However, a follow-up study indicates that the initial boost in well-being requires sustained effort and continued practice of these habits, such as gratitude and meditation, to maintain long-term benefits.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 6, 2024·4 min read

Can’t Buy Me Happiness: Joy Beyond Wealth

Many Indigenous and local communities report high levels of life satisfaction despite low monetary incomes, challenging the widely held belief that economic growth is essential for happiness. Surveying 2,966 individuals across 19 globally diverse sites, researchers found life satisfaction scores in these communities comparable to those in affluent countries, with some even surpassing the happiness indices of wealthy Scandinavian nations.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 19, 2023·4 min read

Journey of Joy: Tracing Emotional Highs and Lows Over a Lifetime

Subjective well-being varies significantly across different stages of life, reveals a comprehensive study examining 460,902 participants. Life satisfaction dips during teenage years, peaks in the 70s, and drops off again by age 96.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 14, 2023·4 min read

Chasing Hobbies Over Achievement Boosts Happiness

Individuals emphasizing freedom and hobbies experienced a boost in well-being, whereas those prioritizing achievement felt less happy. The research showed that valuing ‘hedonism’ and ‘self-direction’ led to increased happiness across India, Turkey, and the UK.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 3, 2023·5 min read

The Paradox of Progress: Why More Freedom Isn’t Making Women Happier

Despite gains in freedom and employment opportunities, research indicates women are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and sleep issues than before. A survey suggests that dissatisfaction with societal treatment may be a key factor.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 29, 2023·5 min read

Happiness Now or Later? The Impact of Timing on Well-being

A new study explores how people's preferences for immediate or delayed happiness can shape their behavior and overall well-being. It discusses two differing views on happiness: one where happiness is an accumulating resource, often 'delayed' for the sake of long-term goals, and another where happiness is fleeting and must be experienced in the present moment.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2023·5 min read

Your Happiness Is Not Just About Your Personality; It’s Also Affected by Circumstances

Objective circumstances and behaviors like wealth and health affect happiness as much as subjective psychological traits, according to a recent study. Researchers found that surveys of happiness and life satisfaction overstate the importance of psychological traits because they are measured similarly, and a methodological change — simply asking someone how they're doing — enables a fairer comparison.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2023·5 min read

Happy Songs: These Are the Musical Elements That Make Us Feel Good

Listening to your favorite music has a positive effect on your emotional and psychological health. Researchers say music impacts the endocrine system, increasing levels of dopamine and decreasing the stress-associated hormone, cortisol.