Happiness 2.0: The Path to Contentment

This Hidden Brain episode explores the paradox of pursuing happiness, interviewing psychologist Iris Mauss. Mauss discusses research showing that striving intensely for happiness can ironically lead to lower well-being and higher depressive symptoms, due to inflated expectations and self-consciousness about one's emotional state. She contrasts this with the benefits of emotional acceptance, where individuals acknowledge negative feelings without judgment, leading to improved mental health. A key takeaway is that focusing on connection with others and shifting from a "need" to a "preference" mindset regarding happiness yields better results than a solely individualistic pursuit. The episode concludes by highlighting the contrast between the "happiness industrial complex" and the value of accepting emotions as they are.