The Science of Happiness
Dr. Mark D. Holder
University of British Columbia
Huntington’s Disease
Society of America
28th Annual Convention
Jacksonville
June 21st, 2013
Psychology, Medicine, Psychiatry, and
Neuroscience have traditionally
focused on what’s wrong with you
and how do we fix it.
Positive psychology is about what is
right with you and how do we
promote it.
Happiness: An Ignored Field
Dictionary of Psychology:
- Definitions of “Depression”
- 18 Definitions
- Definitions of “Happiness”
- 0 Definitions
Why is Research on Happiness Important?
1.
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Improvements in the Immune System
Associated with Health
Increased Career Success
Improved Investment Returns
Better Relationships
Increased Tolerance
Increased Creativity
Longer Life
How we are Judged by Others
We Desire It
“Much has been gained if we succeed in turning
your hysterical misery into common
unhappiness.”
Sigmund Freud
How happy are you?
Self-report measures
The Faces Scale
“Overall, how do you usually feel?”
Very Happy
very unhappy
very happy
Measure
Canada
Zambia
UN Human Development Index
6th
164th
Life expectancy
80.7 yrs
42.4 yrs
GDP per capita
$50,496
$1,414
Adult literacy rate
99%
80.6%
HIV/Aids prevalence (15-49 yrs)
0.30 %
15.20%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
How NOT to become happier
Buying Happiness
• Personal income has risen
dramatically over 40+ years
• Gross National Product has increased
dramatically over the past 50 years
• Happiness has not increased
Income Increases but not Happiness
$20,000
100%
$16,000
80%
$12,000
60%
$8,000
40%
$4,000
20%
$0
0%
1956 1970 1984 1998
Personal
Income in 1995
dollars
Percentage
Very Happy
Money and Happiness
• Winning a lottery
• No relation between happiness and family
income for children (Holder & Coleman, 2008)
• However, most people are convinced that
more money would promote their happiness
(Kahneman, et al., 2006)
• Less than $70,000
Happiness and Gender
100
80
60
Males
Females
40
20
0
Satisfied
Very Happy
Happiness and Education
No correlation between education and happiness
Happiness and Beauty
Beauty has many advantages
1) you are judged smarter
2) more likely to get a job,
a better job evaluation,
a promotion, and a raise
3) more people want to
be your friend
4) newborns prefer looking
at them
But beauty is not strongly
linked to happiness
Life Satisfaction and Age
100
80
Percent 60
satisfied
with life 40
20
0
15-24
25-35
35-44
Age
45-54
65+
Happiness & Having Children
Non Parents
Parents
Parents Living with a
Minor
Activities and Happiness
Grocery
shopping
Housework
Being with
your
Children
Friends
Eating
So, if it is not income, gender, education, beauty, age, or
having children, what does contribute to happiness?
• Genetics
– 40-50% of happiness has been
attributed to inheritance
– Twins
Leisure
• Active Leisure
– Holidays, team sports, and hobbies
• Passive Leisure
– Television, computer use, and
playing video games
(Holder, Coleman & Sehn, 2009)
Spirituality
• Neglected in adults
• 4-5% of your happiness
• Why spirituality?
–
–
–
–
–
Gives one personal meaning
Healthier lifestyle
Promotes volunteering and altruism
Gives hope
Promotes social relations
• Children too (Holder, Coleman, & Wallace, 2010)
Four components of Spirituality
•
•
•
•
1) Personal Meaning
2) Connecting with others
3) Transcendence
4) Nature
Enhancing Spirituality
Nature experiences
Photo albums
Friends and Family
• “Hell is other people” (Jean Paul
Sartre)
• Critical component of happiness
– Marriage
– Children (Holder & Coleman, 2009)
– Dementia and social support
Percentage Very Happy
Marriage and Happiness
50
40
30
Married
Never Married
20
10
0
1973 1977 1981 1985 1989
Year
Quality not Quantity
• List three people you are really
excited about seeing and you are
certain you can trust
How To Nurture Relationships
1) Ask questions and really listen
2) Never miss an opportunity to
compliment
3) Never miss a chance to celebrate
success
4) Notice something different
5) Limit e-social connecting
Volunteer
• Why does this work?
– Gives you social praise
– Gives you personal meaning
– Makes you less self-focused
– Makes you feel competent
– Promotes social relations
Giving Thanks
Gratitude Journal
• Three things each week that you are thankful for
• 1) a past event
• 2) a present event
• 3) a future event
• 4) something about you (physical)
• 5) something about you (non-physical)
• 6) a friend
• 7) a family member
• 8) work
• 9) your community
How to Increase Your Happiness
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Don’t Confuse Well-Being with Being Well-off
Active Leisure
Friends and Family
Counting Acts of Kindness
Volunteer
Discover Flow
Sleep & Health
Fake it
Social Comparisons
Spirituality
Giving Thanks
A Big Thanks
Dr Ben Coleman – Okanagan College
Graduate Students:
Judi Wallace
Andrea Klassen
Rob Callaway
Ashley Love
Maxine Crawford
Undergraduate Students:
Tabatha Freimuth, Zoë Sehn, Tim Krupa
Funding:
Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research
Ogopogo Rotary Club
UBC Okanagan Internal Grants & Travel Grants
Joan Rundle (private donation)
BrainTrust Canada