Center for Wellbeing, Welfare and Happiness at the Stockholm School of Economics
Discover the science of happiness, one episode – one study! In this podcast, host Professor Micael Dahlen explores groundbreaking research with leading experts,...
11. Happiness or Good Looks: Which Comes First? - with Professor Delin Sun
Does happiness make you more attractive, or does being attractive make you happier? In this episode, we explore the intriguing connection between how we feel and how we’re perceived. Professor Delin Sun of Duke University has conducted a brain study to uncover the secrets behind happiness and how attractive we are to others. Which comes first—being happy or being desirable? Tune in to find out, and see if a smile really is your best asset!
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10. Cheating and Happiness: What’s the Real Connection? - with Professor Olga Stavrova
In this episode, we dive into a big no-no in relationships: infidelity. What’s the link between happiness and cheating? Does infidelity make couples less happy, or is unhappiness what drives them to cheat? Professor Olga Stavrova of University of Lübeck shares her research on why this connection matters and what it reveals about relationship dynamics. Tune in to explore how happiness and betrayal are more intertwined than you might think!
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9. How Much Does the Government Really Impact Your Happiness? (Spoiler alert: The answer is pretty surprising…) - with Professor Peter Esaiasson
In this fun episode, we find out how people associate their happiness with politics and the government. Could a breakup with your partner make you want to dump the government too? In this episode, Professor Peter Esaiasson of University of Gothenburg shares insights from his multi-country research on how happiness impacts support for the government, and even good citizen behaviors as paying taxes and abiding laws. Tune in to explore how happiness, love, and politics are more connected than you might think!
https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1475-6765.12335
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8. Does Having Almost Nothing Make You More or Less Happy? - with Professor Eric Galbraith
In this fun episode, we tackle the age-old question: Do money and material things really buy happiness? Or could you find just as much (or even more) happiness living deep in the Amazon rainforest, in the mountains of Nepal, or in a desert village? Professor Eric Galbraith from McGill University shares insights from his unique research, where he compares the happiness of people in 19 small, remote villages and tribes around the world with those living in WEIRD society’s – Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich Democracies. Tune in to discover what his research reveals about the universal secrets to happiness!
https://www.pnas.org/doi/pdf/10.1073/pnas.2311703121
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7. Does Air Quality Affect Your Happiness? - with Professor Paul Dolan
Is the air you’re breathing making you happy, or unhappy? In this episode, we explore how the quality of air can impact your mood, and even your overall happiness. Professor Paul Dolan of London School of Economics shares his surprising findings on how air quality influences well-being, to an extent that can even be comparable to making thousands of extra dollars or not. Tune in to discover how those good or bad “air days" might be affecting more than just your lungs!
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-benefit-cost-analysis/article/abs/bad-air-days-the-effects-of-air-quality-on-different-measures-of-subjective-wellbeing/E9967A81411253654AC3D934CDEE8FE0
Discover the science of happiness, one episode – one study! In this podcast, host Professor Micael Dahlen explores groundbreaking research with leading experts, uncovering the science behind what truly makes us happy. Whether it's relationships, work, politics, or daily habits, The Happy Science Podcast brings insights from the field in a fun, engaging and accessible way. Tune in for thought-provoking discussions and practical takeaways on how to live a happier, more fulfilling life—backed by science!