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Happiness Is a Skill

Happiness Is a Skill. Key: AWL to Study , Low-frequency Vocabulary. In what ways could happiness be considered a skill?. Research on Happiness. An explosion in the research on happiness has occurred over the last decade .

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Happiness Is a Skill

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  1. Happiness Is a Skill Key: AWL to Study, Low-frequency Vocabulary In what ways could happiness be considered a skill?

  2. Research on Happiness • An explosion in the research on happiness has occurred over the last decade. • Scientists have charted regions of the brain implicated in a positivedisposition. • linked to meditation and mindfulness Do you meditate? Why or why not?

  3. Happiness Set Point • Researchers say that each person has a happiness set point: • influenced by genetic and environmental factors. • However, happiness is also a skill that can be learned. How is happiness under one’s control?

  4. Genetic Predisposition • Neuroscientists pinpoint brain regions: • left prefrontal cortex corresponds to positive frame of mind • right prefrontal cortex coincides with negative emotional state • dopamine relays information to left prefrontal cortex • people with more sensitive dopamine receptors are cheerful. • Predisposition to happiness clearly observed in infants. • some babies have naturally higher activity in left prefrontal cortex

  5. Environmental Influences • Up until the end of adolescence • have a profound effect on person’s happiness set point • brain is highly changeable • Nurturing parents can raise set point; critical parents can lower it considerably. What other types of environmental factors could affect a person’s happiness? Explain.

  6. Happiness Set Point • Emotional baseline • Life circumstances do not permanently alter one’s temperament. • Individuals return to their emotional baseline once the novelty of an event (winning the lottery or losing a partner) has passed. Do you believe that life circumstances do not permanently alter one’s emotional baseline?

  7. Brain Plasticityin Adulthood • Studies of Buddhist monks • credited with 10,000–50,000 hours of meditation experience • left prefrontal brain activity vastly higher than ever seen before. Do you believe that meditation can increase one’s happiness?

  8. StressedBiotech Professionals • mindfulness meditation training • monitor feelings and thoughts and drop negative ones • greater activity in right prefrontal cortex before training • brain activity shifted left post-training Do you believe that mindfulness meditation can improve your health? Explain.

  9. Twins • Researchers compiled data on twins and baseline happiness • 50% of baseline happiness is genetic • 10% is due to life circumstances • 40% is due to attitude Do you think you have a positive attitude towards life? Explain.

  10. Happiness Trainer • Provides brain wave feedback so people can learn to induce a positive frame of mind • Session begins with a pleasing film. • As brain waves shift to happier mode, film image grows larger, providing positive feedback. • Happiness is a skill. • requires practice and persistence Would you like to try the happiness trainer? Explain.

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