Summary of Jonathan Haidt's The Happiness Hypothesis

By: Falcon Press

Narrated by: Paul Bartlett

Length: 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Get the Summary of Jonathan Haidt's The Happiness Hypothesis

Sample Key Takeaway

A person’s level of happiness isn’t set in stone. But it can be difficult to change.

Analysis
Most people tend to have a set level of happiness that can be changed only with effort. This personal disposition is difficult to alter. Optimists tend to be happier people, but more people are pessimistic. Life’s events are usually interpreted as good or bad beneath the level of consciousness, so people can’t necessarily decide how they feel about a given circumstance. That means optimism and pessimism aren’t really a choice.

Most people are subject to a phenomenon known as the negativity bias, which means that the bad things in life stand out to them more than the good things. This bias developed as humans evolved to take special notice of threats. Potentially dangerous situations instinctively raise a red flag that is difficult to ignore. Stable situations don’t have any kind of analogous alarm system.

Lasting positive change in how a person perceives the world can come about primarily through three methods: meditation, cognitive therapy, or the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Meditation is known to reduce anxiety and increase positive feelings like trust and self-esteem. Cognitive therapy has similar effects, helping people overcome negative thoughts and feelings by changing thought patterns. SSRIs do similar work by altering the brain’s chemistry. These three methods are the most effective ways to boost personal happiness.

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