1. The Science of Happiness Dr. Mark D. Holder University of British Columbia Huntington’s Disease Society of America 28 th Annual Convention Jacksonville June 21 st, 2013

2. Psychology, Medicine, Psychiatry, and Neuroscience have traditionally focused on what’s wrong with you and how do we fix it. Positive psychology is about what is right with you and how do we promote it.

3. Happiness: An Ignored Field Dictionary of Psychology: -Definitions of “Depression” -18 Definitions -Definitions of “Happiness” -0 Definitions

4. Why is Research on Happiness Important? 1.Improvements in the Immune System 2.Associated with Health 3.Increased Career Success 4.Improved Investment Returns 5.Better Relationships 6.Increased Tolerance 7.Increased Creativity 8.Longer Life 9.How we are Judged by Others 10.We Desire It

5. “Much has been gained if we succeed in turning your hysterical misery into common unhappiness.” Sigmund Freud

6. How happy are you? Self-report measures

7. The Faces Scale “Overall, how do you usually feel?” Very Happy very unhappy very happy

8. MeasureCanadaZambia UN Human Development Index6 th 164th Life expectancy80.7 yrs42.4 yrs GDP per capita$50,496$1,414 Adult literacy rate99%80.6% HIV/Aids prevalence (15-49 yrs)0.30 %15.20%

9. 5 2 34 1 67

10. How NOT to become happier

11. Buying Happiness Personal income has risen dramatically over 40+ years Gross National Product has increased dramatically over the past 50 years Happiness has not increased

12. Income Increases but not Happiness

13. Money and Happiness Winning a lottery No relation between happiness and family income for children (Holder & Coleman, 2008) However, most people are convinced that more money would promote their happiness (Kahneman, et al., 2006) Less than $70,000

14. Happiness and Gender

15. Happiness and Education No correlation between education and happiness

16. Happiness and Beauty Beauty has many advantages 1) you are judged smarter 2) more likely to get a job, a better job evaluation, a promotion, and a raise 3) more people want to be your friend 4) newborns prefer looking at them

17. But beauty is not strongly linked to happiness

18. Life Satisfaction and Age

19. Happiness & Having Children

20. Activities and Happiness Housework Being with your Children Grocery shopping Eating Friends

21. So, if it is not income, gender, education, beauty, age, or having children, what does contribute to happiness?

22. Genetics –40-50% of happiness has been attributed to inheritance –Twins

23. Leisure Active Leisure –Holidays, team sports, and hobbies Passive Leisure –Television, computer use, and playing video games (Holder, Coleman & Sehn, 2009)

24. Spirituality Neglected in adults 4-5% of your happiness Why spirituality? –Gives one personal meaning –Healthier lifestyle –Promotes volunteering and altruism –Gives hope –Promotes social relations Children too (Holder, Coleman, & Wallace, 2010)

25. Four components of Spirituality 1) Personal Meaning 2) Connecting with others 3) Transcendence 4) Nature

26. Enhancing Spirituality Nature experiences Photo albums

27. Friends and Family “Hell is other people” (Jean Paul Sartre) Critical component of happiness –Marriage –Children (Holder & Coleman, 2009) –Dementia and social support

28. Marriage and Happiness

29. Quality not Quantity List three people you are really excited about seeing and you are certain you can trust

30. How To Nurture Relationships 1)Ask questions and really listen 2)Never miss an opportunity to compliment 3)Never miss a chance to celebrate success 4)Notice something different 5)Limit e-social connecting

31. Volunteer Why does this work? –Gives you social praise –Gives you personal meaning –Makes you less self-focused –Makes you feel competent –Promotes social relations

32. Giving Thanks Gratitude Journal Three things each week that you are thankful for 1) a past event 2) a present event 3) a future event 4) something about you (physical) 5) something about you (non-physical) 6) a friend 7) a family member 8) work 9) your community

33. How to Increase Your Happiness 1.Don’t Confuse Well-Being with Being Well-off 2.Active Leisure 3.Friends and Family 4.Counting Acts of Kindness 5.Volunteer 6.Discover Flow 7.Sleep & Health 8.Fake it 9.Social Comparisons 10.Spirituality 11.Giving Thanks

34. A Big Thanks Dr Ben Coleman – Okanagan College Graduate Students: Judi Wallace Andrea Klassen Rob Callaway Ashley Love Maxine Crawford Undergraduate Students: Tabatha Freimuth, Zoë Sehn, Tim Krupa Funding: Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Ogopogo Rotary Club UBC Okanagan Internal Grants & Travel Grants Joan Rundle (private donation) BrainTrust Canada