1. The Science of Happiness
An online course by Bill O’Hanlon (

2. Orientation to the Online Course
There are benefits to taking the course online
Ability to review the material again and again and absorb it at your own rate and pace from anywhere you have computer/Internet access
Fellow students from all over the world to inspire, motivate and connect with
Some tips:
Keep up on the lessons, but if you are very late posting, post your assignments on the current message board
Write your reports, assignments or responses in a word processing file, save it, then copy and paste it into the message board; that way if your Internet connection gets interrupted or you forgot to do the final save and publish, you won’t have lost all the work you have done

3. Lesson 1a Introduction to Positive Psychology
What is Positive Psychology?
The scientific study of what makes people happy, function well and satisfied with their lives
The benefits of happiness are well documented in the research. Happy people:
Are half as likely to die or be disabled than unhappy people
Live longer than average
Have better health habits
Have lower blood pressure and more robust immune systems
Are more productive on the job
Have higher incomes
Are able to tolerate more pain

4. Precursors and Developers of Positive Psychology
William James – Psychology of Religious Experiences
Abraham Maslow – Healthy core; peak experiences
Carl Rogers – Healthy organismic self
Milton Erickson – Resource-based therapy
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly – Flow
Dennis Saleeby – Strengths-based social work
Steve de Shazer/Insoo Berg – Solution-focused therapy
David Cooperrider – Appreciative Inquiry
Ed Diener/Martin Seligman – Positive Psychology/Happiness research

5. Happiness Defined A joyful, contented life –Sonja Lyubomirsky
A subjective sense of well-being
Pleasure+engagement+meaning=Happiness

6. Why Aren’t We Happier?
What we think will make us happy is mostly mistaken
Why people are so bad at predicting what will make them happy
Bad things don’t cause the permanent decrease in happiness we fear they will; good things don’t cause the permanent increase in happiness we think they will
Interests/needs change
The hedonic treadmill comes into play
Happiness over the life cycle is U-shaped; well-being typically reaches the lowest point in one’s late 40s and is higher earlier and later in life [Source: Blanchflower and Oswald, 2007, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper #12935]

7. What Influences Happiness?

8. Why Aren’t We Happier?
People generally have a temperamental “set point” to happiness levels (the levels vary around a stable value)
People who have suffered circumstances that left them quadriplegic are usually back to their previous happiness levels after a year of diminished happiness; people who win the lottery or come into a large amount of money likewise typically return to their previous happiness levels after a year or so
Average happiness levels have not increased (and in some cases have decreased) in about 50 years in the U.S., Britain and many other industrialized countries, despite massive increases in real wealth levels, luxury goods and conveniences [the exception is Denmark, where satisfaction levels have increased over the past three decades]

9. How Happy Are We (in the U.S.)?
38% - Very Happy
53% - Quite Happy
9% - Not Very Happy

10. Happiness Levels

11. The Surprising Things That Don’t Make Us Happier
Age
Gender
Looks IQ
Mental/physical energy levels
Education (well, only slightly, and that is probably because of income levels, one of the things that does make a difference)

12. Happiness and Life Satisfaction Levels Can Be Changed
Some things seem to have a lingering effect happiness or life satisfaction levels
Negative things: Like being a caregiver for a family member with Alzheimer's; death of a spouse; death of a child (remember though that these are average findings and people fall on a range within these averages)
Positive things: Having a wider ranger of social connections; having a basic amount of income; having a sense of freedom; having life purpose and so on

13. Money Can’t Buy Happiness (except when it can)
Americans who earn $50,000/year are much happier, in general, than those who earn only $10,000/year
But those who earn $5 million/year are not substantially happier than those who earn $100,000/year
People in very poor nations generally have lower happiness levels than those in wealthier nations, but after a certain annual income level (anywhere from $9,000- $20,000/year, depending on the study), happiness levels do not increase national average happiness by a significant amount

14. Money Can’t Buy Happiness (except when it can)
Increases in income or wealth generally create a short- term increase in happiness levels, but then people typically return to their set points
Comparing oneself to others who make more money or have things you envy generally decreases happiness levels; so, if others appear to be getting wealthier or have nicer things, you will tend to become unhappier with your money or material objects

15. Assignment #1 Lesson 1a
Introduce yourself on the message board, saying a little about who you are, where you live, what kind of work you do and why you decided to take this course
Make a list of things you think make you happy and what you think might make you happier in the future; post what you have discovered from doing this exercise on the message board

16. The Science of Happiness
An online course by Bill O’Hanlon (

17. Lesson 1b Happiness Levels
Where you live makes a difference in average general happiness levels
We’ll examine the national differences and why they exist
While those are general happiness levels, we will begin to examine what can make a difference for individuals no matter where they live

18. The 20 Happiest Nations in the World Are:
1. Denmark 2. Switzerland 3. Austria 4. Iceland 5. The Bahamas 6. Finland 7. Sweden 8. Bhutan 9. Brunei 10. Canada 11. Ireland 12. Luxembourg 13. Costa Rica 14. Malta 15. The Netherlands 16. Antigua and Barbuda 17. Malaysia 18. New Zealand 19. Norway 20. The Seychelles

19. Countries and Happiness Levels
Other notable results include: 23. USA 35. Germany 41. UK 62. France 82. China 90. Japan 125. India 167. Russia

20. Countries and Happiness Levels
The three least happy countries are: 176. Democratic Republic of the Congo 177. Zimbabwe 178. Burundi [Former iron curtain/Soviet block countries are generally very low in national happiness levels]

21. Countries and Happiness Levels
Things that influence nations’ happiness levels: Perceived level of freedom; income levels; income inequality; general health; life expectancy; crime levels Bhutan has established a Gross National Happiness Index

22. Life Circumstances and Happiness Levels
Country Level of national income Comparative income Job security Meaningful life/work

23. Applications of Positive Psychology to Changework
How to apply this research in changework is not always obvious
Much of this research is new and preliminary, but there are some intriguing findings that seem to fit with research on how people change in therapy settings
There are things that an individual can do to increase happiness levels based on this research
This course will provide the translation from research to practice and practical methods to help you and the people with whom you work apply these insights

24. The S.O.A.P. Model Social Connections Optimism
There are four major elements that seems to increase happiness levels according to the research so far in Positive Psychology
Social Connections
Optimism
Appreciation (Gratitude)
Purpose (greater than oneself)

25. Assignment #2 Lesson 1b
Write a message on the message board about a time or event in your life that clearly affected your happiness level for at least a while, bringing it up or down