Happycast: The Science of Happiness – Details, episodes & analysis

What do I need to actually balance? Why is balance so important? How can we achieve more balance? Listen and find out.

A Happier Year is now available on AHappierYear.com! Use the code “happycastlistener” at checkout for 10% off.

[01:00] A metaphor for balance
[02:23] Social relationships
[02:53] Mirror neurons
[03:53] Bowling et al., “What makes your life good?”
[06:13] Creating space for social relationships
[07:31] Meaning and passion
[13:20] Overwork
[15:41] Disconnecting from work
[17:43] Passions
[18:50] Creating space

References:

• Schnell, T. (2011). Individual differences in meaning-making: Considering the variety of sources of meaning, their density and diversity. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(5), 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.006
• Uddin, L. Q., Iacoboni, M., Lange, C., & Keenan, J. P. (2007). The self and social cognition: The role of cortical midline structures and mirror neurons. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(4), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.01.001
• Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
• SONNENTAG, S., & FRITZ, C. (2015). Recovery from job stress: The stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S72-S103. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1924
• Bridekirk, J., Turcotte, J., & Oddson, B. (2016). Harmonious passions support cognitive resources. Motivation and Emotion, 40(4), 646–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9561-y

A Happier Year is now available —  an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on http://ahappieryear.com

Today we are going to talk about three different papers assessing: healthy selfishness, optimism, and acceptance. These three papers provide the basis for three actions in A Happier Year. Let's dive into these papers and get a sneak peek of what's in A Happier Year. 

[00:00] Intro

[02:36] Healthy Selfishness

[06:25] Looking forward to tomorrow

[09:25] Is anything bugging you right now?

References:

• Kaufman, S. B., & Jauk, E. (2020). Healthy Selfishness and Pathological Altruism: Measuring Two Paradoxical Forms of Selfishness. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1006. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01006
• Littman-Ovadia, H., & Nir, D. (2013;2014;). Looking forward to tomorrow: The buffering effect of a daily optimism intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(2), 122-136. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.853202
• Ford, B. Q., Lam, P., John, O. P., & Mauss, I. B. (2018). The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: Laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(6), 1075–1092. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000157

Those small interactions you have with strangers have quite a few hidden benefits!

A Happier Year is now available —  an illustrated calendar with 366 science-based actions. Use the code "happycastlistener" for 10% off at checkout on ahappieryear.com

[00:42] Talk to strangers on your commute, it’ll make you happier

[07:15] Little social interactions make us happier

[09:19] Introverts still need to talk 

[11:45] Affective forecasting, the reason we don’t think we’ll enjoy eating spaghetti 

[13:28] Smile at strangers, it makes them feel included

[14:18] Put your phone down, you’ll smile more

References

• Epley, N., & Schroeder, J. (2014). Mistakenly Seeking Solitude, Journal of Experimental Psychology, 143(5), 1980–1999.
• Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Is Efficiency Overrated?: Minimal Social Interactions Lead to Belonging and Positive Affect, Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5(4), 437–442. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613502990
• Zelenski, J. M., Whelan, D. C., Nealis, L. J., Besner, C. M., Santoro, M. S., & Wynn, J. E. (2013). Personality and Affective Forecasting : Trait Introverts Underpredict the Hedonic Benefits of Acting Extraverted, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(6), 1092–1108. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032281
• Wesselmann, E. D., Cardoso, F. D., Slater, S., & Williams, K. D. (2012). To Be Looked at as Though Air : Civil Attention Matters. Psychological Science, 23(2) 166 –168. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611427921
• Kushlev, K., Hunter, J. F., Proulx, J., Pressman, S. D., & Dunn, E. (2019). Computers in Human Behavior Smartphones reduce smiles between strangers. Computers in Human Behavior, 91, 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.09.023

Huge thanks to Ashley for suggesting this week's topic! :)

How do we stay happy while working?

[01:27] Overworking and happiness

[07:25] Self-employment

[10:20] Work Success

[14:57] National well-being

References:

• Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x
• Bujacz, A., Eib, C., & Toivanen, S. (2019). Not All Are Equal : A Latent Profile Analysis of Well ‑ Being Among the Self ‑ Employed. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00147-1
• Laguna, M., & Razmus, W. (2018). When I Feel My Business Succeeds , I Flourish : Reciprocal Relationships Between Positive Orientation , Work Engagement , and Entrepreneurial Success. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0065-1
• Ali, S., Mansoob, S., & Papyrakis, E. (2019). Happiness and the Resource Curse. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00080-3

Social support is so important. It can even impact your physiology. 

[01:15] Friends make life good

[03:22] What is social support?

[07:40] How can social support make you happier?

[08:55] The biology of social support

[11:54] Hugs

References:

• Siedlecki, K.L., Salthouse, T.A., Oishi, S. and Sheena, J. (2014) The Relationship Between Social Support and Subjective Well- Being Across Age. Social Indicators Research, 117, 561-576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-013-0361-4
• Hooker, E.D., Zoccola, P.M., and Dickerson S.S. (2018). Toward a Biology of Social Support. In Snyder,  C.R., Lopez, S.J., Edwards, L.M., and Marques, S.C. (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (3rd ed.), doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.41 
• Cohen, S., Janicki-Deverts, D., Turner, R.B., & Doyle, W.J. (2015). Does hugging provide stress-buffering social support? A study of susceptibility to upper respiratory infection and illness. Psychological science, 26(2), 135-47 .

How can valuing things in our future make us happier?

[01:06] What is temporal discounting?

[03:33] Those that discount the future and those that do not

[06:00] Happiness and temporal discounting

[09:07] Expecting something negative

[11:30] So what can we do to stop discounting the future?

References

• Story, G. W., Vlaev, I., Seymour, B., Darzi, A., & Dolan, R. J. (2014). Does temporal discounting explain unhealthy behavior ? A systematic review and reinforcement learning perspective, 8(March), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00076
• Kennedy, J. (2019). Subjective Wellbeing and the Discount Rate. Journal of Happiness Studies, (0123456789). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00096-9
• Golub, S. A., Gilbert, D. T., & Wilson, T. D. (2009). Anticipating One’s Troubles: The Costs and Benefits of Negative Expectations. Emotion, 9(2), 277–281. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014716
• Kim, H., Schnall, S., & White, M. P. (2013). Similar Psychological Distance Reduces Temporal Discounting. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213488214

Why are we sometimes less satisfied even though we have more? The peak-end rule can explain that!

[00:00] Introduction

[00:55] How can more pain be better?

[03:15] Quality of years, not quantity

[06:39] The order matters

[08:44] Why we sometimes are satisfied with less

[11:46] Vacation and happiness

References

• Kahneman, D., Fredrickson, B. L., Schreiber, C. A., & Redelmeier, D. A. (1993). When More Pain Is Preferred To Less: Adding a Better End, 4(6), 401–405.
• Diener, E., Wirtz, D., & Oishi, S. (2001). End Effects of Rated Life Quality: The James Dean Effect. Psychological Science, 12(2), 124–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00321
• Do, A. M., Rupert, A. V., & Wolford, G. (2008). Evaluations of pleasurable experiences: The peak-end rule. Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, 15(1), 96–98. https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.15.1.96
• Kemp, S., Burt, C.D., & Furneaux, L. (2008). A test of the peak – end rule. Memory and Cognition, 36(1), 132-138. https://doi.org/10.3758/MC.36.1.132

Let’s dive into what adventure is and how adventure contributes to your well-being.

[00:35] Intro

[02:25] Family adventures

[08:58] Adventure involves risk

[11:05] Outdoor recreation and connection to places

[12:52] Adventure and well-being

References

• Pomfret, G., & Varley, P. (2019). Families at leisure outdoors : well-being through adventure. Leisure Studies, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2019.1600574

• Kulczycki, C., & Lück, M. (2009). Outdoor Adventure Tourism, Wellness, And Place Attachment. In : Wellness and Tourism: Mind, Body, Spirit, Place (pp. 165-176). Cognizant Communications.

As a customer, your emotions can rub off on employees. As an employee, you can catch others emotions. Learn how this can affect you. As a customer, your emotions can rub off on employees. As an employee, you can catch others emotions. Learn how this can affect you.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:12] Your attitude can influence your customer experience. 

[05:23] Deep acting and reframing the situation

[08:00] Angry customers

[11:00] Fun detour: Psychopaths & emotional contagion

References

• Liu, X., Chi, N., & Gremler, D. D. (2019). Emotion Cycles in Services : Emotional Contagion and Emotional Labor Effects. Journal of Service Research, 22(10), 285–300. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670519835309

• Hennig-thurau, T., Groth, M., & Gremler, D. D. (2006). Are All Smiles Created Equal ? How Emotional Contagion and Emotional Labor Affect Service Relationships. Journal of Marketing, 57–73. https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.70.3.58

• Dallimore, K. S., Sparks, B. A., & Butcher, K. (2007). The Influence of Angry Customer Outbursts on Service Providers ’ Facial Displays and Affective States. Journal of Service Research, 10(1), 78–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094670507304694

• Luckhurst, C., Hatfield, E., & Gelvin-smith, C. (2017). Articles Capacity for Empathy and Emotional Contagion in Those With Psychopathic Personalities. Interpersona. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.247

Emotions are contagious! Learn how and why so that you can be aware.

[00:00] Introduction

[01:06] Overview of how emotions are contagious

[03:02] What is emotional contagion?

[07:54] Exaggerating your facial expression

[08:54] Botox and emotions

[12:15] Talking on the phone and catching emotions

References

• Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., Rapson, R. L., Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. L. (1993). Emotional Contagion. Current Directions, 2(3), 96–99.

• Hatfield, E., Bensman, L., Thornton, P. D., & Rapson, R. L. (2014). New Perspectives on Emotional Contagion : A Review of Classic and Recent Research on Facial Mimicry and Contagion. Interpersona, https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v8i2.162

• Neal, D. T., & Chartrand, T. L. (2011). Embodied emotion perception: Amplifying and dampening facial feedback modulates emotion perception accuracy. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 673-678. doi:10.1177/1948550611406138
• Coyne, J. C. (1976). Depression and the response of others. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 186–193.