logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
41m 5s

The Man Who Invented Happiness Science: ...

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

When Marty Seligman started his long scientific career, psychologists concentrated on studying "misery and suffering" and what made people sad. But Marty wanted to discover what made happy people, well, happy. His research laid the foundations of "positive psychology" and the happiness science you hear week after week in this podcast. 

Dr Laurie Santos talks to Professor Seligman about his decades of research; the power of optimism; and how he became less of a "grouch" to improve his own personal happiness.  

Marty's latest book, TOMORROWMIND: Thriving At Work – Now and in an Uncertain Future, is OUT NOW. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Nov 24
Why Being Grateful Makes Us Feel Great (A Thanksgiving Re-run)
<p>It's Thanksgiving - a good time to think about gratitude and being selfless. Concentrating on the things we have to be grateful for is a great way to boost your happiness. So thank the people who've done good things for you, and think of ways you can help others too.&nbsp;&nbs ... Show More
27m 17s
Nov 5
Reset Your Relationship with Stress (for National Stress Awareness Day)
On National Stress Awareness Day we've pulled a popular episode from our archive. Stress can suck. Many of us drown in it - worrying about past events and fearing upcoming challenges. We even stress about feeling stressed. So how can we reset our relationship with stress - benefi ... Show More
43m 27s
Oct 27
How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier
Halloween isn't just costumes and candy. It's also a time when we indulge our interest in the scary and macabre. But there's also a taboo about gory horror movies and gruesome true crime shows - we often feel that being interested in blood and violence is unhealthy. The opposite ... Show More
44m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
The Secret to Happiness + The Happiest Person on Earth
Peter discovered that the most popular course in Yale’s over 300-year history was the “Class on Happiness”. Really, no Really! In the modern era, happiness has become an industry, with motivational speakers and self-help gurus promising to teach techniques that unlock the gates t ... Show More
40m 35s
Jun 2018
Positive psychology—with Martin Seligman
During the 1960s the field of psychology focussed on the science of how past trauma creates present symptoms, and how to reduce people’s misery. Professor Martin Seligman wanted to change that focus. He’s become known as the Father of Positive Psychology, and he’s had a profound ... Show More
28m 58s
Jul 2022
Laurie Santos On The Surprising Truth About Happiness & How to Become Happier Today
Today’s guest is Dr. Laurie Santos who's a professor of psychology and head of Silliman College at Yale University. Dr. Santos is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, teaches students what the ... Show More
47m 55s
Jan 2022
63. How to Live a Little Happier with Dr. Laurie Santos
1. The simple exercises Laurie conducts with her students at Yale to help them reset their brains and restructure their days in order to access happiness.   2. Why being “time famished” is one of the most common obstacles to happiness, the signals our bodies give us that we are s ... Show More
41 m
May 2023
#196 — The Science of Happiness
Sam Harris speaks with Laurie Santos about the scientific study of happiness. They discuss people’s expectations about happiness, the experiencing self vs the remembered self, framing effects, the importance of social connections, the effect of focusing on the happiness of others ... Show More
31m 19s
Oct 2022
Listen to This: The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
<p>Here’s a special preview of the new season of The Happiness Lab, a podcast from Pushkin Industries. You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has s ... Show More
4m 37s
Oct 2022
How to Lead a Happier Life with Dr. Laurie Santos
Dr. Laurie Santos is Professor of Psychology and Head of Silliman College at Yale University.  She is the host of the podcast The Happiness Lab and is an expert on human cognition and the cognitive biases that impede better choices. Her course, “Psychology and the Good Life,” tea ... Show More
1h 12m
Dec 2023
The science of happiness with Laurie Santos | How to Be a Better Human
<p>The phrase "comparison is the thief of joy" might be the kind of cliché that makes you roll your eyes — and yet, it's an idea that is, scientifically, pretty accurate. In today's episode, psychologist Laurie Santos — a Yale professor and host of "The Happiness Lab" podcast — d ... Show More
36m 12s