The Pursuit of Happiness: What Works and Why Seminar

The “pursuit of happiness” is a right enshrined in the American Declaration of Independence.  But given strong genetic influences on happiness, is it even possible to “go up and then stay up?” Or, are we always doomed to return to our happiness set-points after any positive life-change, like coming down from a sugar high?  I will summarize my research on this topic, much of it with Sonja Lyubomirsky, showing that under the right conditions, happiness changes can be maintained.  However it requires a) proper selection of happiness activities and changes, b) continuing active engagement with those changes, and c) avoidance of premature hedonic adaptation to those changes.  I will explain the relevance of my Eudaimonic activity model, our Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model, and the basic psychological needs mini-theory of Ryan and Deci’s Self-determination theory.