The Science of Happiness: A Conversation with Laurie Santos (Episode #196)

A researcher at Harvard Business School studying 'time affluence,' the subjective feeling of having ample free time.

A neuroscientist at MIT whose research indicates that social isolation triggers brain areas associated with craving, similar to hunger.

A social psychologist whose work on psychological distancing and reframing experiences is discussed as a technique for managing stress.

A neuroscientist at Yale who uses mindfulness techniques to study craving and updating desires, particularly in the context of addiction.

Professor of psychology at Yale University, host of 'The Happiness Lab' podcast, and instructor of Yale's most popular course on happiness.

A pioneering figure in positive psychology, whose research on the importance of social relationships for happiness is cited.

A Nobel laureate and psychologist whose work on the experiencing and remembering self is discussed in relation to defining happiness.

Lead researcher of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, whose findings highlight the predictive power of social relationships for both mental and physical health.

A social psychologist whose research demonstrates the surprising happiness boost from brief interactions with strangers.

A professor at the University of British Columbia whose research shows how technology, particularly cell phones, negatively impacts social connection and enjoyment, and that spending money on others increases happiness.

Actions intended to help others, such as charity or volunteering, which are shown to significantly increase happiness and well-being, often contrary to people's intuitions.

A historical document referenced in the context of the common understanding of 'happiness' in American culture.

A recovery tool in fitness, mentioned in relation to physical habits impacting mental health.

An ancient spiritual and philosophical tradition whose concepts, such as the benefits of helping others, are corroborated by modern social science and neuroscience.

The subjective experience of having enough free time, contrasted with 'time famine,' and its impact on stress levels and well-being.

A practice of present-moment awareness, discussed as a tool to hack bad intuitions, notice the effects of actions, and update desires.

The Greek term for human flourishing or living well, often discussed in philosophical contexts and related to happiness and well-being.

The neurological distinction between the brain circuits responsible for craving an outcome and those responsible for enjoying it, relevant to addiction and everyday decision-making.

The psychological process where humans quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.

Cognitive biases where the way information is presented influences people's judgments and decisions, impacting the perception of experiences.

The phenomenon of free time being broken into small, fragmented snippets, making it difficult to engage in meaningful activities and potentially leading to less well-being.

The degree to which people feel connected to others, identified as a crucial factor for happiness and well-being, impacting both mental and physical health.

A practice from ancient traditions, discussed as a source of mindsets like gratitude and compassion, and as a technique to update behavioral reinforcement.

A place for physical exercise, discussed in relation to healthy habits impacting mental health.

A video conferencing platform used during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain social connections, noted for its ability to facilitate informal interactions and convey non-verbal cues.

An online learning platform where Laurie Santos's 'Psychology and the Good Life' course is available, attracting over a million learners.

A technique involving thinking about an event from the perspective of one's future self, used to reframe experiences and manage stress.

The website for Sam Harris's podcast, where listeners can subscribe for full episodes and exclusive content.

Works by Jean-Paul Sartre, mentioned as an example of deep leisure that is difficult to engage with due to fragmented time.

A popular podcast hosted by Laurie Santos that explores the scientific basis of happiness and well-being.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where neuroscientist Rebecca Saxe works.

A newspaper mentioned in the context of how fragmented time (time confetti) leads people to consume short-form content like news articles or social media feeds rather than engaging with longer forms of media.

An institution where Laurie Santos is a professor of psychology and teaches the most popular course on happiness.

Research showing that people consistently underestimate the positive impact of brief social interactions with strangers on their well-being.

A long-running longitudinal study that tracks the lives of men from Harvard and Boston neighborhoods, demonstrating the crucial link between social relationships and health/longevity.

A social media platform whose feed scrolling is mentioned as a distraction that vies for attention, detracting from present social interactions and well-being.

A social media platform often criticized for its negative impact on social connection, though the speaker expresses greater concern about general attentional resource depletion due to technology.

A social media platform whose short-form content is mentioned as an example of what people consume when time is fragmented.

Devices whose mere presence in social settings decreases smiling and bonding, and whose constant notifications compete for attention, negatively impacting social connections and well-being.

Personal Protective Equipment for medical staff, mentioned as a cause for advocacy during the COVID-19 crisis, highlighting opportunities for pro-social action.