The “pursuit of happiness” is one of America’s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse?

In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to explore what Thomas Jefferson and the founders really meant by “the pursuit of happiness” — and how that idea has changed over time.

She speaks with historian Darrin McMahon and psychologist Iris Mauss about Americans’ unique relationship with happiness, why striving for it can sometimes backfire, and why the best path to a good life may involve focusing less on ourselves and more on other people.

Experts Mentioned:
Darrin McMahon, David W. Little Class of 1944 Professor of History at Dartmouth College
Iris Mauss, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and Director of the Emotion and Emotion Regulation Lab 
Lahnna Catalino, Associate Professor of Psychology at Scripps College
Birgit Koopmann-Holm, Associate Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara College of Arts and Sciences

Resources Mentioned:
“Declaration of Independence,”(1776)
Happiness: A History, by Darrin McMahon (2006)
A Dictionary of the English Language, by Samuel Johnson (1755)
Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)
“The Pursuit of Happiness: Pitfalls and Promises,” by Iris Mauss and Brett Ford
“Can Seeking Happiness Make People Happy? Paradoxical Effects of Valuing Happiness,” by Iris Mauss and colleagues (Emotion, 2011)
“Focusing on the Negative: Cultural Differences in Expressions of Sympathy,” by Birgit Koopmann-Holm and Jeanne Tsai (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2014)
“Prioritizing Positivity: An Effective Approach to Pursuing Happiness?,” by Lahnna Catalino, Sara Algoe, and Barbra Frederickson (Emotion, 2014)

Related Episodes:
“Happiness Lessons From the Ancients: Aristotle”
"How to Identify Your Negative Emotions"
“Stop Endlessly Chasing the ‘Next Big Thing’ in 2023”

The &ldquo;pursuit of happiness&rdquo; is one of America&rsquo;s founding ideals. But what if chasing happiness is actually making us feel worse?
In honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence, Dr. Laurie travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to explore what Thomas Jefferson and the founders really meant by &ldquo;the pursuit of happiness&rdquo; &mdash; and how that idea has changed over time.
She speaks with historian <a href="https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/darrin-m-mcmahon">Darrin McMahon</a> and psychologist <a href="https://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/iris-mauss">Iris Mauss</a> about Americans&rsquo; unique relationship with happiness, why striving for it can sometimes backfire, and why the best path to a good life may involve focusing less on ourselves and more on other people.
Experts Mentioned:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://faculty-directory.dartmouth.edu/darrin-m-mcmahon">Darrin McMahon</a>, David W. Little Class of 1944 Professor of History at Dartmouth College</li>
<li><a href="https://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/iris-mauss">Iris Mauss</a>, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and Director of the Emotion and Emotion Regulation Lab&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.scrippscollege.edu/offices/profile/lahnna-catalino">Lahnna Catalino</a>, Associate Professor of Psychology at Scripps College</li>
<li><a href="https://www.scu.edu/cas/psychology/faculty-and-staff/birgit-koopmann-holm/">Birgit Koopmann-Holm</a>, Associate Professor of Psychology at Santa Clara College of Arts and Sciences</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript">Declaration of Independence</a>,&rdquo; (1776)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=happiness+a+history&amp;hvadid=694122845217&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvexpln=67&amp;hvlocphy=9004400&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvocijid=8289930300280046609--&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvrand=8289930300280046609&amp;hvtargid=kwd-299429754950&amp;hydadcr=15278_13517873&amp;mcid=6edc0d09988a39e7a06307a2a77af1cb&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;ref=pd_sl_5fsx49g574_e_p67">Happiness: A History</a>, by Darrin McMahon (2006)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-English-Language-Anthology-Classics/dp/0141441577">A Dictionary of the English Language</a>, by Samuel Johnson (1755)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-America-Alexis-Tocqueville/dp/0226805360">Democracy in America</a>, by Alexis de Tocqueville (1835)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661326000513?dgcid=author">The Pursuit of Happiness: Pitfalls and Promises</a>,&rdquo; by Iris Mauss and Brett Ford</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3160511/">Can Seeking Happiness Make People Happy? Paradoxical Effects of Valuing Happiness</a>,&rdquo; by Iris Mauss and colleagues (Emotion, 2011)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0037684">Focusing on the Negative: Cultural Differences in Expressions of Sympathy</a>,&rdquo; by Birgit Koopmann-Holm and Jeanne Tsai (Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2014)</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5533095/">Prioritizing Positivity: An Effective Approach to Pursuing Happiness?</a>,&rdquo; by Lahnna Catalino, Sara Algoe, and Barbra Frederickson (Emotion, 2014)</li>
</ul>
Related Episodes:
<ul>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/happiness-lessons-of-the-ancients-aristotle">Happiness Lessons From the Ancients: Aristotle</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>"<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/how-to-identify-your-negative-emotions">How to Identify Your Negative Emotions</a>"</li>
<li>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos/stop-endlessly-chasing-the-next-big-thing-in-2023">Stop Endlessly Chasing the &lsquo;Next Big Thing&rsquo; in 2023</a>&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won’t protect you.

With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim — using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

The Happiness Lab is serving up scientifically-backed takes this summer that are so hot, even your SPF 50 won&rsquo;t protect you.
With the help of behavioral scientists, historians, and cultural critics, Yale psychologist Dr. Laurie Santos challenges some of our biggest assumptions about what it takes to live a good life. Dr. Laurie explores topics like why we should forget about TMI and lean into oversharing, how dumping small talk makes for better conversations, why the kids these days are actually doing just fine, and how men can establish strong bromances. Each episode unpacks a bold, counterintuitive claim &mdash;&nbsp;using research, data, and expert insight to question the conventional wisdom around happiness and wellbeing.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/39cbdc28-9864-40ea-b5f4-b478000df773/transcript