Happiness Archives

Social Justice

New Benefits of Marriage Study Actually Hints at the Horrors of Middle Age

Marriage isn’t the happiness elixir America wants it to be. If anything, it simply distracts us from persisting economic and social injustices that undermine all types of relationships.

Maya Dusenbery

Social Justice

This Is Your Body on Laughter

Several new studies exploring the effects of laughter are contributing to a fast-growing body of research that finds just how important it is to keeping us happy, healthy, and sane.

Katharine Gammon

Social Justice

Enjoy Life More: Use Facebook Less

Contrary to our expectations, using Facebook dampens our spirits, leaving us feeling like we've wasted time, according to new research.

Tom Jacobs

Economics

The Downside of Bargain Hunting

New research suggests people spend their money on material goods out of the belief that, compared to experiential purchases such as vacations, they provide better value for their money.

Tom Jacobs

it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men douglass

Social Justice

The Perks of Being a Fire Walker

Those who participated in a fire-walking ritual felt happier and less fatigued afterwards than close relatives who spectated.

Bettina Chang

Social Justice

Science Is, Undeniably, Making the World a Better Place: A Conversation With Steven Pinker

Oliver Burkeman explores human nature, violence, feminism, and religion with one of the world’s most controversial cognitive scientists. Can he dent Steven Pinker’s optimism?

Oliver Burkeman