Trinity Week

‘Let us smile each chance we get: Neuroscience based nudges toward happiness and health’

It feels good to be happy. Emerging research is making a compelling case that feeling happy is also good for you. Where past studies focused on negative emotions such as anger and stress on health, new research is highlighting how happiness and a subjective sense of well-being can play a key protective role in physical health with effects on resistance to infection, cardiovascular health and longevity. Both happiness and health can be increased by happiness promoting interventions.

Professor Nancy Etcoff, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital.