OT but somehow related science of happiness

LonelyPilgrim

My boyfriend forwarded this to me, from a coworker.. they are just notes taken at a lecture :


Lecture Notes from “ Postive Psychology and the Science of Happiness”
Given by Shawn Achor from Harvard University
At One Day University on 3/29/08



Some info on studies:
Langer Study of 1979 showed that mental construction effects physical and mental performance
A group of men in their 70’s were placed in a study. Control group given similar
activities but study group was placed in “1959” – Magazines, Photos, etc men
were told they were to pretend as if it was 20 years prior.
The control group showed similar performance at the beginning of the week and
at the end of the week.
The study group (living as if it were 1959) scored higher on all measures than the
control group AND than they (the study group) did one week prior. These
included:
eyesight
flexibility
IQ
Memory

Gratitude Study showed that brain chemistry is changed, which promotes feelings of well being and happiness.
After 30 consecutive days of writing 5 things that they are thankful for brain
chemistry changed and people reported a sense of greater well being and
feelings of happiness and fewer feelings of sadness

Rates of depression have increased 10 X since the great depression

The average age of diagnosis of depression changed from 29 years old in 1960 to 14.5 years old recently.

Thinking “happy thoughts” prior to an activity increased performance
4 year olds asked to perform a task with blocks who were asked to think about a “most happy time” performed better than a control group
who were not asked to do that

Thinking “you can be smarter’ makes you smarter.
Adults who were about to take an important test of some type were asked to read
an article. One group was given an article stating that IQ was fixed, another
group was asked to read an article stating that IQ could improve after
adolescence and was not fixed. The second group scored much better on the test.


Medical Student study showed similar effect
Med students were about to take a diagnosis test and were separated into three
Groups. One group given nothing to read prior to test, second group given short
scientific article to read (assumed this would “prime” brain for task) third group
given “pleasant” (I forgot topic) article to read. The latter group performed
significantly better on the test.
They showed a 3X increase in mental flexibility and a 50% increase in
Performance (not sure how this was done……)

When teachers were told that their students had great potential the students performed significantly better. Non-verbal communication affected performance.
Teachers were told the names of 3 students who were “high ability” students.
Teachers were instructed to keep the info confidential, not tell anyone especially
student, family or other teachers. The teachers were also told to treat these
students the same as the other students. When tested after 6 weeks the 3 students,
performed significantly better than other students, and than they had previously.
- None of the identified students were truly “high potential students, they were
randomly chosen.

Positive outlook leads to better health.
The “Nun Study” of 1952 asked a group of nuns to keep a journal of their
thoughts. The nuns were then rated on a happiness scale based on their writings,
this was from a “very happy” down to a “not very happy” type of scale.
When these nuns were re-visited at the age of 85 80% of the “happy” nuns were
alive, while 70% of the “not happy” nuns had died.

Placing a pencil/pen (horizontal to floor) in your mouth makes you happy…
Placing that type of (clean) object in your mouth and gently biting down, tricks
your brain and then body into thinking you are happy since you are “smiling”.
Chemicals are sent out that makes you feel happy.

Multi-tasking increases stress and affects the body negatively.
French women, on the same calorie diet as American women, weigh less.
It is thought this occurs because the French women are more likely to
sit down, focus on enjoying their food, while American women try to
multitask while eating. The stress that multitasking causes the body
makes it less effective.

Exercising can improve feelings of depression
People with depression were placed into three groups: 1) medication, 2)medication and exercise, and 3) exercise only. After one month group 2 and 3
improved to a similar level and more than group 1 (medication only group)
After 6 months the group with the lowest relapse rate was the EXERCISE only
Group.
It is thought that the self-efficacy (you in control) of the exercise-only group is
what led to the long-term improvement in this group




SOME STRATEGIES FOR INCREASSING HAPPINESS-
-Create gratitude journal, this increases immune system and decreases stress
-Scan for what makes you happy. The brain has too much input, try to train your
brain to focus on what makes you happy so you can filter out what you do not
need.
-Simplify, do not multitask
- Meditation (non-religious or spiritual- this is not anti-religious this is meant to
clear your brain) 5 minutes per day, watch breath (focus on breath) going in and out (reduces multitasking at other times and increases immune system.
-Decrease activation energy for what you do want and increase activation energy
for what you do not want.
Ie- make it easy to get what you want and hard to do the other
Example: To watch TV less and read more. Place TV not in bedroom,
Remove batteries from remote control, and place batteries in far room.
Put reading material you want to read in various places in home for easy
access
-Create (write) a contract and add specificity.
Ie- I am going to play the guitar for 15 minutes each day at 7:40 at home
In the kitchen.
-Praise the process not the outcome-
ie- NOT “I expect to get an A”
but rather “I expect to work hard”
-Exercise

LonelyPilgrim

My boyfriend forwarded this to me, from a coworker.. they are just notes taken at a lecture :


Lecture Notes from “ Postive Psychology and the Science of Happiness”
Given by Shawn Achor from Harvard University
At One Day University on 3/29/08



Some info on studies:
Langer Study of 1979 showed that mental construction effects physical and mental performance
A group of men in their 70’s were placed in a study. Control group given similar
activities but study group was placed in “1959” – Magazines, Photos, etc men
were told they were to pretend as if it was 20 years prior.
The control group showed similar performance at the beginning of the week and
at the end of the week.
The study group (living as if it were 1959) scored higher on all measures than the
control group AND than they (the study group) did one week prior. These
included:
eyesight
flexibility
IQ
Memory

Gratitude Study showed that brain chemistry is changed, which promotes feelings of well being and happiness.
After 30 consecutive days of writing 5 things that they are thankful for brain
chemistry changed and people reported a sense of greater well being and
feelings of happiness and fewer feelings of sadness

Rates of depression have increased 10 X since the great depression

The average age of diagnosis of depression changed from 29 years old in 1960 to 14.5 years old recently.

Thinking “happy thoughts” prior to an activity increased performance
4 year olds asked to perform a task with blocks who were asked to think about a “most happy time” performed better than a control group
who were not asked to do that

Thinking “you can be smarter’ makes you smarter.
Adults who were about to take an important test of some type were asked to read
an article. One group was given an article stating that IQ was fixed, another
group was asked to read an article stating that IQ could improve after
adolescence and was not fixed. The second group scored much better on the test.


Medical Student study showed similar effect
Med students were about to take a diagnosis test and were separated into three
Groups. One group given nothing to read prior to test, second group given short
scientific article to read (assumed this would “prime” brain for task) third group
given “pleasant” (I forgot topic) article to read. The latter group performed
significantly better on the test.
They showed a 3X increase in mental flexibility and a 50% increase in
Performance (not sure how this was done……)

When teachers were told that their students had great potential the students performed significantly better. Non-verbal communication affected performance.
Teachers were told the names of 3 students who were “high ability” students.
Teachers were instructed to keep the info confidential, not tell anyone especially
student, family or other teachers. The teachers were also told to treat these
students the same as the other students. When tested after 6 weeks the 3 students,
performed significantly better than other students, and than they had previously.
- None of the identified students were truly “high potential students, they were
randomly chosen.

Positive outlook leads to better health.
The “Nun Study” of 1952 asked a group of nuns to keep a journal of their
thoughts. The nuns were then rated on a happiness scale based on their writings,
this was from a “very happy” down to a “not very happy” type of scale.
When these nuns were re-visited at the age of 85 80% of the “happy” nuns were
alive, while 70% of the “not happy” nuns had died.

Placing a pencil/pen (horizontal to floor) in your mouth makes you happy…
Placing that type of (clean) object in your mouth and gently biting down, tricks
your brain and then body into thinking you are happy since you are “smiling”.
Chemicals are sent out that makes you feel happy.

Multi-tasking increases stress and affects the body negatively.
French women, on the same calorie diet as American women, weigh less.
It is thought this occurs because the French women are more likely to
sit down, focus on enjoying their food, while American women try to
multitask while eating. The stress that multitasking causes the body
makes it less effective.

Exercising can improve feelings of depression
People with depression were placed into three groups: 1) medication, 2)medication and exercise, and 3) exercise only. After one month group 2 and 3
improved to a similar level and more than group 1 (medication only group)
After 6 months the group with the lowest relapse rate was the EXERCISE only
Group.
It is thought that the self-efficacy (you in control) of the exercise-only group is
what led to the long-term improvement in this group




SOME STRATEGIES FOR INCREASSING HAPPINESS-
-Create gratitude journal, this increases immune system and decreases stress
-Scan for what makes you happy. The brain has too much input, try to train your
brain to focus on what makes you happy so you can filter out what you do not
need.
-Simplify, do not multitask
- Meditation (non-religious or spiritual- this is not anti-religious this is meant to
clear your brain) 5 minutes per day, watch breath (focus on breath) going in and out (reduces multitasking at other times and increases immune system.
-Decrease activation energy for what you do want and increase activation energy
for what you do not want.
Ie- make it easy to get what you want and hard to do the other
Example: To watch TV less and read more. Place TV not in bedroom,
Remove batteries from remote control, and place batteries in far room.
Put reading material you want to read in various places in home for easy
access
-Create (write) a contract and add specificity.
Ie- I am going to play the guitar for 15 minutes each day at 7:40 at home
In the kitchen.
-Praise the process not the outcome-
ie- NOT “I expect to get an A”
but rather “I expect to work hard”
-Exercise