HAPPINESS RESEARCH, straight up. What is happiness? How do our circumstances affect happiness? Why is the word “gratitude” kinda cringey? What can we do to feel better? Should we feel guilty for feeling happy? When is positivity “toxic?” In this encore of an episode favorite, Yale cognitive scientist, Eudemonologist, and host of The Happiness Lab podcast Dr. Laurie Santos chats about how scientists measure human happiness and what their research has shown helps achieve it, even during the worst of times. Also: silver medal face & countering counterfactuals, which will make sense when you listen.Visit Dr. Santos's website and follow her on Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, and FacebookHer podcast: Happiness LabA donation went to DonorsChoose.orgMore episode sources and links Other episodes you may enjoy: Awesomeology (GRATITUDE FOR LITTLE THINGS), Molecular Neurobiology (BRAIN CHEMICALS), Thanatology Encore (DEATH & GRIEF), Attention-Deficit Neuropsychology (ADHD), Traumatology (PTSD), Sports & Performance Psychology (ANXIETY & CONFIDENCE), Phonology (LINGUISTICS), Neuropathology (CONCUSSIONS), Quantum Ontology (WHAT IS REAL?), Disability Sociology (DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH), Dolorology (PAIN)Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodesSponsors of OlogiesTranscripts and bleeped episodesBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!Follow Ologies on Instagram and BlueskyFollow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTokSound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray MorrisAdditional editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jake ChaffeeManaging Director: Susan HaleScheduling Producer: Noel DilworthTranscripts by Aveline Malek Website by Kelly R. DwyerTheme song by Nick Thorburn
Full Episode
Oh, hello. 2024 Allie here. This is an encore while I am napping in a human-sized dog bed in front of a fireplace for the holidays. What a way to start 2025, folks. I wanted you to have this episode at the beginning of January. This is a reminder of scientifically what actually makes us happy and keeps us happy. We all need this one. Please enjoy. I love it. I'm happy to have you listen.
Oh, hey, it's that guy who saw you see him bump his head and then you smiled at each other like, that's okay. Allie Ward, back with an episode of Ologies. It's going to fix your whole life. Just kidding. Actually, maybe not. It very well might fix your life. I love the Life Fixer episodes. And this ologist is someone I've had in my sights for a few years.
We mentioned her work in the Awesomeology episode with Neil Pazricha. And instead of just citing her, we're essentially interrogating her now to shake her for brain science.
so she got her bachelor's in psychology and her master's and phd in cognition and brain behavior from harvard university and is now a cognitive scientist and a psychology professor at yale where she has taught the course psychology and the good life Oh, she's been a TED speaker. She was named one of Time Magazine's leading campus celebrities. And she hosts a podcast called The Happiness Lab.
So it's been a wonky few years. We all know. And as one person who wrote a review this week of Ologies said, it always brings a smile to my face when I hear people talk about their passions. I'm grateful every day for Ologies and giving me my life back. AJ Buxton, who left that review, I'm very glad you're here. Thank you for leaving that fresh one.
And a 2024 reviewer, V Farm, who wrote that, without fail, my favorite episodes are those on topics I had no interest in. Y'all, vampires, trees, gar, brilliantly unenthusiastic sounding crab experts. There's nothing quite so wonderful. Thank you, V Farm, for getting it. And thanks to everyone who leaves me reviews. They keep the show up in the charts.
They keep me from crying on days that are challenging. Also, heads up, if you prefer podcasts without swearing, we have a slew of them. They're called Smologies and you can subscribe to Smologies now. Wherever you get podcasts, they're in their own separate feed in case you need to listen while you carpool to school. Okay. Thank you to all the patrons who left questions for this ologist.
You too can join that club. Costs 25 cents an episode at patreon.com. Okay, so let's get into it. Eudemonology. Will I say it right even one time this episode? Stick around to find out. So this is the science of happiness. And it's been on the ology books a long time. It comes from eudaimon, which is Greek for a benevolent demon or a good spirit.
And it was a term used by 19th century humanistic philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. And he called eudaimonology the art of ordering our lives so as to obtain the greatest possible amount of pleasure and success. But we're talking about the science of this art.
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