Happycast: The Science of Happiness

Trina Kushnerik
  • 4.1 (12)
  • Social Sciences

This podcast talks about positive psychology literature in an easily digestible format. This way, you can use the knowledge to learn about happiness and add to your wellbeing.

  1. 04/22/2021

    Balance, creating space in your life

    What do I need to actually balance? Why is balance so important? How can we achieve more balance? Listen and find out. [01:00] A metaphor for balance [02:23] Social relationships [02:53] Mirror neurons [03:53] Bowling et al., "What makes your life good?" [06:13] Creating space for social relationships [07:31] Meaning and passion [13:20] Overwork [15:41] Disconnecting from work [17:43] Passions [18:50] Creating space References: Schnell, T. (2011). Individual differences in meaning-making: Considering the variety of sources of meaning, their density and diversity. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(5), 667-673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.06.006 Uddin, L. Q., Iacoboni, M., Lange, C., & Keenan, J. P. (2007). The self and social cognition: The role of cortical midline structures and mirror neurons. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 11(4), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2007.01.001 Kuroda, S., & Yamamoto, I. (2019). Why Do People Overwork at the Risk of Impairing Mental. Journal of Happiness Studies, 20(5), 1519–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-0008-x SONNENTAG, S., & FRITZ, C. (2015). Recovery from job stress: The stressor-detachment model as an integrative framework. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 36(S1), S72-S103. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.1924 Bridekirk, J., Turcotte, J., & Oddson, B. (2016). Harmonious passions support cognitive resources. Motivation and Emotion, 40(4), 646–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-016-9561-y

    Balance, creating space in your life

  2. 10/28/2020

    A Happier Year: Healthy selfishness, looking forward, and acceptance

    Today we are going to talk about three different papers assessing: healthy selfishness, optimism, and acceptance. These three papers provide the basis for three actions in A Happier Year. Let's dive into these papers and get a sneak peek of what's in A Happier Year.  [00:00] Intro [02:36] Healthy Selfishness [06:25] Looking forward to tomorrow [09:25] Is anything bugging you right now?   References: Kaufman, S. B., & Jauk, E. (2020). Healthy Selfishness and Pathological Altruism: Measuring Two Paradoxical Forms of Selfishness. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1006. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01006 Littman-Ovadia, H., & Nir, D. (2013;2014;). Looking forward to tomorrow: The buffering effect of a daily optimism intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(2), 122-136. doi:10.1080/17439760.2013.853202 Ford, B. Q., Lam, P., John, O. P., & Mauss, I. B. (2018). The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: Laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 115(6), 1075–1092. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000157

    A Happier Year: Healthy selfishness, looking forward, and acceptance

  3. 10/06/2020

    Active leisure, you can do more!

    Today we are learning about active leisure! Why do we feel so "blah" after watching Netflix and what can we do instead? What psychological needs are we missing out on? [00:30] Something exciting! [02:30] Active leisure vs passive leisure [04:35] The benefits of active leisure [06:25] How does active leisure benefit us (vs passive leisure) [11:10] An example of active leisure: Rock climbing [13:05] Finding active leisure that suits you [14:06] What are you actually tired of? [15:54] A Happier Year is on Kickstarter! bit.ly/ahappieryear    References: Hu, X., Barber, L. K., & Santuzzi, A. M. (2020). Does active leisure improve worker well-being? an experimental daily diary approach. Journal of Happiness Studies, doi:10.1007/s10902-020-00305-w Kuykendall, L., Lei, X., Zhu, Z., & Hu, X. (2020). Leisure choices and employee Well‐Being: Comparing need fulfillment and Well‐Being during TV and other leisure activities. Applied Psychology : Health and Well-being, 12(2), 532-558. doi:10.1111/aphw.12196

    Active leisure, you can do more!

  4. 07/15/2020

    Joy, a deeper look

    What is joy? We dig into how we define joy and talk about a strategy to add more joy to our lives. [00:00] Intro [1:10] Exciting Happycast news! [02:28] What is joy? [05:25] Joy as an emotion  [08:32] Joy as more than an emotion [11:25] Appreciative joy  [13:55] Joy journal [15:08] Tears of joy [20:05] Outro   References   Casioppo, D. (2019). The cultivation of joy: practices from the Buddhist tradition, positive psychology, and yogic philosophy. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1–7. doi:10.1080/17439760.2019.1685577  Emmons, R. A. (2020). Joy: An introduction to this special issue. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2019.1685580 Zeng, X., Sun, Y., Deng, Y., & Oei, T. P. S. (2019). Appreciative joy rooted in Chinese culture: Its relationship with strengths in values in action. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1–10. Zeng, X., Wang, R., Oei, T. P. S., & Leung, F. Y. K. (2018). Heart of Joy: a Randomized Controlled Trail Evaluating the Effect of an Appreciative Joy Meditation Training on Subjective Well-Being and Attitudes. Mindfulness. doi:10.1007/s12671-018-0992-2  Matthew Kuan Johnson (2020) Joy: a review of the literature and suggestions for future directions, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15:1, 5-24, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1685581 Oriana R. Aragón & John A. Bargh (2017): "So Happy I Could Shout!" and "So Happy I Could Cry!" Dimorphous expressions represent and communicate motivational aspects of positive emotions, Cognition and Emotion, DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2017.1301388 Matthew Kuan Johnson (2020) Joy: a review of the literature and suggestions for future directions, The Journal of Positive Psychology, 15:1, 5-24, DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2019.1685581 Aragón, O. R., & Clark, M. S. (2018). "tears of joy" & "smiles of joy" prompt distinct patterns of interpersonal emotion regulation. Cognition and Emotion, 32(5), 913-940. doi:10.1080/02699931.2017.1360253'

    Joy, a deeper look

  5. 04/08/2020

    Corona-cast, How to feel a little better during a worldwide pandemic

    We are all feeling a little anxious and overwhelmed right now. Here are some science backed tips on how to feel a little better during these weird and scary times. [00:18] Intro [02:35] Stay social with video chats! [08:40] Get moving [13:24] Focus on what you can control [15:30] Disconnect from the news a little [17:44] Outro   References Tsai, H., Cheng, C., Shieh, W., & Chang, Y. (2020). Effects of a smartphone-based videoconferencing program for older nursing home residents on depression, loneliness, and quality of life: A quasi-experimental study. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 27-11. doi:10.1186/s12877-020-1426-2 Lathia, N., Sandstrom, G. M., Mascolo, C., & Rentfrow, P. J. (2017). Happier people live more active lives: Using smartphones to link happiness and physical activity. PloS One, 12(1), e0160589. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0160589

    Corona-cast, How to feel a little better during a worldwide pandemic

  6. 12/11/2019

    Control, put yourself in the driver's seat

    How can we gain more control of our feelings and of our lives? [00:00] Intro [01:20] What is control?  [03:43] You can't control everything [04:45] Study: Control helps older adults through stressful times [08:25] How to feel more in control   References: Thompson, S.C. (2017) The Role of Personal Control in Adaptive Functioning In C.R. Snyder, Shane J. Lopez, Lisa M. Edwards, and Susana C. Marques (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 3rd Edition. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199396511.013.22  Dulin, P. L., Hanson, B. L., & King, D. K. (2013). Perceived control as a longitudinal moderator of late-life stressors on depressive symptoms, Aging and Mental Health, 17(6), 718-723. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.784956

    Control, put yourself in the driver's seat

  7. 11/27/2019

    Psychological safety, a conversation with Dr. Timothy R. Clark

    In a nutshell, psychological safety is about feeling safe to learn, contribute, and challenge the status quo without fear of being embarrassed or punished. Listen as Dr. Clark shares his wealth of knowledge on this topic.  [01:50] Dr. Clark's background [03:30] The background of psychological safety [04:30] The basic definition of psychological safety [06:07] Why is psychological safety important? [06:40] Personal experiment with psychological safety [08:07] What are some common causes of fear? The four stages of psychological safety [11:55] The first sign of psychological safety: Inclusion safety [15:05] How to make people feel included? [17:05] Stage two: Learner safety [17:45] Stage three: Contributor safety [18:35] Stage four: Challenger safety [20:32] What's something a leader might be doing that is undermining psychological safety [22:12] What can an employee do? How to disagree. [24:50] How to compete in a healthy way [28:00] Intended audience [29:20] How this relates to students [32:00] A better way to view failure [39:54] Parting thoughts   Get in touch with Dr. Clark tclark@leaderfactor.com https://www.leaderfactor.com   Get Dr. Clark's book https://www.amazon.com/Stages-Psychological-Safety-Inclusion-Innovation/dp/1523087684

    Psychological safety, a conversation with Dr. Timothy R. Clark

  8. 11/13/2019

    The secret to making friends

    What is the secret to making and having friends? Listen in, it might surprise you! [00:00] Intro [01:40] Spatial ecology [04:52] How many hours does it take to make a friend? Study 1 (adults that moved cities) [08:50] How many hours does it take to make a friend? Study 2 (college students) [10:50] Striving Behaviours, quality conversation [13:13] What is the secret to being liked? [15:20] Outtro    References: Ebbesen, E.B., Kjos, G.L., & Konečni, J. (1976).  Spatial ecology: Its effects on the choice of friends and enemies. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 12(6), 505-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(76)90030-5 Hall, J. A. (2019). How many hours does it take to make a friend ? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(4), 1278–1296. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518761225 Aronson, E., & Worchel, P. (1966). Similarity versus liking as determinants of interpersonal attractiveness. Psychonomic Science, 5(4), 157-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.3758/BF03328329

    The secret to making friends
See All (62)

4.1
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

This podcast talks about positive psychology literature in an easily digestible format. This way, you can use the knowledge to learn about happiness and add to your wellbeing.

Information