In The Happiness Hypothesis
, Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and teacher, presents different hypothesis on how humans can find happiness.
At this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival, The Atlantic asked a group of professors, psychologists, and journalists how they would define happiness. According to Eli Finkel, a professor of psychology at Northwestern University, the definition is twofold: “It seems to me that happiness is some blend of experience of pleasure and the experience of meaning and fulfillment in life,” he says. “I think much more of the latter than the former.” Other panelists include Tim Kasser, Susan Greenfield, Brian Grazer, Paul Bloom, Suleika Jaouad, Robert D. Putnam, and Jennifer Senior.
It is a pretty complicated concept that has to do just with sort of pleasure on one hand but has to do with broader meaning also.
TIM KASSER, Professor of psychology, Know College.
We know there is a whole spectrum of positive state that one wants to attain.
SUSAN GREENFIELD, Senior Research Fellow, Oxford University.
Happiness is some blend of experience of pleasure and the experience of meaning and fulfillment in life. Much more the latter than the former.
ELI FINKEL, Professor of psychology, Northwestern University.
Staying on my own lane, not being comparative to others, my peers, that could have more than me or less than me.
BRIAN GRAZER, Film producer.
Happiness is something more long-term. Pleasure is short-term.
PAUL BLOOM, Professor of psychology, Yale University.
Now happiness to me is about everyday, little things of my life.
SULEIKA JAOUAD, Journalist.
By far the most important is your relationships with other people.
ROBERT D. PUTMAN, Professor of public policy, Kennedy School of Government
Deep connection you get with somebody else.
JENNIFER SENIOR, Journalist.
Complement it with Happiness comes from within, and from without, according to psychologists.