Teaching the Science of Happiness

1. “The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.” — Mencius Teaching the Science of Happiness APA/Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers 2012

2. Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. (Aristotle)http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/ Ideas for High School and College courses in Introductory Psychology

3. http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/ We encourage teachers to use the content in the History of Happiness and Science of Happiness in their own creative ways across different subject areas.  

4. . For example, the History of Happiness modules can be readily be integrated into World History, World Cultures, Sociology and other social studies classes at the high school level .

5. Health courses can incorporate some of the readings and concepts into their curriculum.

8. Length of time for Course or Curriculum Since many High School Psychology courses are taught as 18 week electives, some teachers may choose to use only parts of the POH website to focus on certain concepts taught in their curriculum. For example, when studying Motivation in Psychology students will discuss the Humanistic Theory of Maslow. They could use the information from this curriculum to further explore his ideas

10. http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/maslow-on-happiness/http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/maslow-on-happiness/ Human life will never be understood unless its highest aspirations are taken into account. Growth, self-actualization, the striving toward health, the quest for identity and autonomy, the yearning for excellence (and other ways of phrasing the striving “upward”) must by now be accepted beyond question as a widespread and perhaps universal human tendency…

11. Happiness through purpose – students will explore different ways of increasing happiness through having a sense of purpose. Students will choose one of the topics listed below, doing the related readings and activities, and keeping a class blog of their experience and progress. After finishing all of the activities, students will develop their own presentation (in small groups) to share their findings with the class.

12. Motivation – Self Actualization Motivation, Humanistic Theory – students will read the introductory content of the Maslow Modules. Students will complete a self-guided activity to identify their needs at all the levels and to identify how they were met and to what degree they satisfied them. Students will then present their hierarchy of needs to the class using visual aids. http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/maslow-on-happiness

14. Sense of Purpose First, students will watch the “Interview with the Expert” module on Victor Frankl.http://www.ted.com/talks/viktor_frankl_youth_in_search_of_meaning.htmlIn this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.Comment on his remarks relating to students wanting to make a lot of money. Then read Man’s Search for Meaning. Students will complete a creative writing assignment about their most challenging life experience and how that has provided meaning for their life now. Students will then present their findings to the class.

15. Optimism • Essential Question:How does optimism contribute to happiness? And is there hope for the pessimists of the world? • Pre-Reading Assignment:Introductory and intermediate content on Optimism (SOH). • http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/martin-seligman/

16. Discussion Topic:Students will read a chapter of Seligman’s Authentic Happiness that includes a self-assessment. Students will select a current event issue and analyze the optimism/pessimism of the character using the definition provided by Seligman. • Activity: Students will take one of the inventories from Authentic Happiness website and discuss the results of their inventory. • http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx

17. Practical assignment:Students will conduct an experiment for one week where they collect “evidence” of optimistic/pessimistic thinking from sources of their choice, including news media, friends, family, self, teachers, celebrities, academic characters, etc. They can either a) write an essay or daily blog entries, b) present to the class, or c) create a documentary short video that discusses trends they noticed during their data collection.

18. Character Strengths and Virtues Essential Question: How do strengths and virtues contribute to happiness? Aristotle once claimed that virtue was THE essential ingredient to happiness. By the end of this mini-lesson, students should have formed an opinion about Aristotle’s claim Pre-Reading Assignment – introductory and intermediate content on the character strengths and virtues section of the Science of Happiness (SOH) pages. http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/science-of-happiness/strengths-and-virtues/

19. Discussion - How do these two experts – an ancient philosopher and contemporary Psychologist – compare in how they view the essential ingredients of happiness?(and the teacher too  )

21. Character Strengths and Virtues Take the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire to determine your top three signature strengths: http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx (Note: you will have to register on the Authentic Happiness website first to take the test.  This is a short form that should take only a few minutes to complete). Application – have students take the VIA Character Strengths and Virtues online assessment (free) and discuss results in small groups. Then, students can write and present to the class (or create a class blog or YouTube video) on a topic like: in what ways do my signature strengths contribute to my happiness?

22. Subjective Well BeingDiener on Happiness • What affects happiness the most? • Can we arrive at some measure of happiness—Dienerlabels it “Subjective Well being” - simply by asking someone: are you happy? • According to Diener there are three major components to SWB. Explain what they are. • How would you rate your happiness on a scale of 1-10? Are you satisfied with your life as a whole? • Is it really true that people are happy simply because they say or think they are? • Read the selection in the History of Happiness links on Ed Diener to answer these questions • http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/ed-diener/

23. Find out more about Ed Deiner’s research by visiting http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~ediener/

24. Wikis and Blogs • Students can work on projects together and they can be posted on a Wiki which can be used in the classroom or individually by students at home. • Blogs can be used for discussion outside of the classroom, and students can post questions and comments related to topics being covered in lessons. • http://getpsyched.wikispaces.com/Project+Happiness • This is a page from my Wiki that I used with Psychology students in my AP Psychology class after exams were over

25. Dr. David Myers Hope College Articles on Happiness http://www.davidmyers.org/Brix?pageID=47

26. Get Psyched Wiki • Open the link under the Science of Happiness and read about one of the individuals highlighted and write a formal summary, or make a PowerPoint presentation you can share with the class on the information you have read.After the AP test is over , during the month of JUNE I hope you will participate in the research project we will be doing. You can survey individuals , make a video to put on this website and/or on the Happiness Facebook page, or you can participate in the research being conducted by the U of Penn by Dr. Seligman. III The Positive Psychology Center at the University of Penn • Positive Psychology :**Readings and Videos on Positive Psychology U of Penn** • Take one of the Positive Psychology Questionnaires:**Open this link Questionnaires**http://www.whatisyourhappiness.com/ • IV H-Factor ...Where is your heart? Check out this video and website that was created by Lisa CypersKamen. She has some really interesting info on her website. It might give you some ideas and resources for your research project (JUNE)

27. Resources • Syllabus: Flourishing • Psychology 403, Professor Jon Haidt • Fall 2004, University of Virginia • Wed. 9:15-11:45, Gilmer B001 • http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/flourishingsyllabushaidt.pdf • Syllabus: Human Flourishing • Dr. GriffBlakewood and Dr. Rick Swanson • www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~ras2777/flourishing/flourishingsyllabus.htm • Course Description: Ancient and modern ideas about maximum human flourishing, from Aristotle to modern psychological and philosophical theories. Topics will include happiness, character traits and virtues such as wisdom, courage, moderation, justice, optimism, gratitude, and compassion; physical and psychological health and well-being; and creating meaningful, fulfilling activities, achievements, relationships, careers, and spirituality. Strong experiential component in practicing elements of human flourishing.

28. Other Internet Resources • The Science of Happiness BBC News • http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/happiness_formula/4783836.stm WATCH ONLINE • What is happiness? • Think yourself happy • Politics of happiness • Power of happiness • The happiness recipe • Happiness in Bhutan

29. Stumbling on happiness Daniel Gilbert, keynote speaker at this year’s APA Annual Convention, discusses how his research changed his own life • http://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/05/happiness.aspx

30. Internet Resources • APA Teachers of Psychology In Secondary Schools Unit Plans • Motivation • Positive Psychology If you are a member of APA you can access these unit plans at the TOPSS website http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/index.aspx

31. APA Monitor Nov 2010 • Page 40 Revisiting Philosophy with fMRI • A new generation of philosophers is using • Behavioral science tools to test long-standing questions about human morality How fMRI Works http://science.howstuffworks.com/fmri.htm

32. Internet Resources Positive Psychology News Daily • http://positivepsychologynews.com/ Positive Psychology & the Buddhist Path of CompassionLorne Ladner, Ph.D • http://www.buddhanet.net/compassion.htm

33. Lesson Plan Template • Unit – Big Idea or Concept where this lesson might be used. • Example: Motivation • POH: Links to Correlates of Happiness or Specific Topics in Science or History of Happiness • Example: Self- Fullfillment ** • Lesson Title: • Example: Humanistic Theory - Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs • Grade Level and Course: • Example: High School Introduction to Psychology

34. Lesson Plan Template

35. Individual Variation Domain Standard Area: Motivation Content Standards After concluding this unit, students understand: 1. Perspectives on motivation 2. Domains of motivated behavior in humans and non-human animals

36. Lesson Plan Template • Content Outline: • Example: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs • 1. Needs are ordered from basic survival to psychological needs: physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, self-actualization and transcendence. • 2. Each successive level of the hierarchy is addressed only after the preceding level’s needs have been met • 3. Criticisms of the theory • Activities: • Example: Students will graphically represent Maslow’s hierarchy and classify the options according to Maslow’s scale. Students will then identify how they are functioning at each level of the hierarchy by stating examples of their needs at each level and determining how well their needs are being met. • Discussion in Class, Handouts: Hierarchy Graphic Organizer, Computer Lab: POH website and others researching Maslow

37. Be creative! Research, presentations, newsletters, a website page for the school

39. Lesson Plan Ideas • IF you would like to contribute a lesson plan that incorporates the POH website with your course curriculum , please send your ideas to us!!! • On the website there is a link to Teacher Resources and lesson and unit plan ideas will be included.

40. Learn More!!! • Our next live webinar on the “Science of Happiness: 7 Habits of Happy People” will take place on Saturday August 25, 2012, 9:30-10:50am EST • It is FREE!!!! • Happiness on Facebook

41. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT This two week course is offered from July 28 to August 11, 2012. The course fee is $250 ($150 for students). Successful graduates of the course will receive a certificate of completion (in PDF format) signed by the instructors.

42. Thank you!! • If you would like to get in touch with me, I can be reached at debrapark@msn.com