The Art (and Science) of Happiness Dr. Deborah C. Stearns Rockville Campus Closing Meeting Spring 2010

What is Happiness? Mood: The pleasant life – Joy/Positive affect – Negative affect  Subjective well-being – Engagement: The engaged life – Meaning: The meaningful life

Waiting for Life to Make You Happy? I’d be happy if I... – won the lottery – were more successful – didn’t have to work anymore – could just have fun all day Circumstances do not make us happier – Adaptation: The hedonic treadmill

Population Variance in Happiness Adapted from Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life you want. The Penguin Press: New York.

Intentional Activities that Increase Happiness Invest in relationships – Greater joy when with friends or family – Happy people have better relationships, spend more time with others – Helping others improves mood and self-image Find meaning and purpose – Commit to your goals and pursue them Authentic, motive-congruent goals – Progress matters more than achievement

Intentional Activities that Increase Happiness Live in the present – “Flow” experiences (absorption, involvement) – Savor life’s joys Express gratitude Think optimistically – Personal control – Best possible self

Intentional Activities that Increase Happiness Develop effective coping skills to manage stress and hardship – Problem-focused coping – Emotion-focused coping – Social support (“tend and befriend”) Take care of body and soul – Exercise – Meditation – Spirituality

Endless Possibilities (for Happiness) Spend time with colleagues and students Challenge yourself – set new goals, learn something new Participate in the wellness program Help others when you can Ask for help if you need it... and thank those who provide it What we do here matters – we are in the business of changing lives

References Argyle, M. (2001). The psychology of happiness, 2 nd edition. Routledge: London & New York. Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow: The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row. Diener, E., Suh, E. M., Lucas, R. E., & Smith, H. L. (1999). Subjective well-being: Three decades of progress. Psychological Bulletin, 125, Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (Eds.) (1999). Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology. Russell Sage Foundation: New York, NY. Lyubomirsky, S. (2007). The how of happiness: A scientific approach to getting the life you want. The Penguin Press: New York. Schwartz, N. & Strack, F. (1999). Reports of subjective well-being: Judgmental processes and their methodological implications. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology (p ). Russell Sage Foundation: New York, NY. Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of internventions. American Psychologist, 60,