The topic of human happiness is a complex matter that cannot be fully explained by psychological or cognitive processes happening to a human. For many people, psychologists depicted happiness as a phenomenon unique for every individual, as people’s sensations and so-called “happiness triggers” depended significantly on one’s perceptions of happiness. Later, the notion of happiness became closely associated with the brain’s release of dopamine hormone. Currently, there exist many ways that can help people experience a dopamine rush and a sudden feeling of happiness. However, there are not as many actions that would guarantee people’s long-term happiness.
One of the most commonly recognized contributors is human interpersonal interaction. Indeed, in a study by Ekker (2021), the quantity and quality of dopamine release have been proven to be influenced by movement synchronization during conversation or any other interaction. In order to elaborate on this premise, Robert Waldinger from the Harvard Medical School conducted research on the interrelation between people’s relationship and their level of happiness throughout life. In terms of the experiment, Waldinger (2015) and his team conducted a 75-year study of 724 men, asking them to share the details of their personal and professional lives as well as their health. After a thorough examination that included being “interviewed in their homes, providing their medical records from their doctors, getting their blood drawn, their brains scanned and letting the researchers talk to their children,” the findings demonstrated that regardless of one’s social class or socio-economic status, people’s happiness relied on their relationships with others (Mejia, 2018, para. 9). Indeed, according to Waldinger (2015), “good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period” (05:39). This conclusion, which may seem logical or even obvious for some people, provides people with a chance of reconsidering their lives.
When analyzing the findings of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, I have realized that the truth as plain as happiness relying on a connection has become abandoned in today’s society. Driven by the consumeristic and individualistic values of society, people almost unanimously decided to find the solution to happiness through buying material things or the attention of others. In fact, some people even claim to feel happy when acting in a selfish and isolated manner. Hence, the fact that a psychological study lasting for almost a century brings individuals back to their roots is a marker that people nowadays are not as complicated as they think they are. Having a meaningful connection with the ones you care about, according to the professor, is a single key to happiness and a general sense of well-being (Waldinger, 2015). When looking at this phenomenon from a personal perspective, I realize that the vivid moments of happiness I experienced in my life are never related to something I have done or obtained myself. It was sharing the small victories that gave me an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and purpose in life, whereas keeping good news to myself was always a rather depressing experience.
For this reason, I, by all means, agree that building a solid relationship with one’s close surroundings is the fundamental principle of feeling happy and inspired. While this conclusion may sound too simplistic for such a complex and lengthy study, it was never the author’s intention to make people’s lives more complicated. Instead, Robert Waldinger was trying to encourage people to go back to their roots in the pursuit of contentment and harmony.
CTQ: In the context of digitalization and the global pandemic, does virtual communication with people have the same effect as interpersonal interaction, given that the latter tends to release more dopamine to one’s blood?
References
Ekker, M. (2021). Dopamine in health and disease. Biomedicines, 9(11), 1644. Web.
Mejia, Z. (2018). Harvard’s longest study of adult life reveals how you can be happier and more successful. CNBC. Web.
Waldinger, R. (2015). What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness [Video]. TED. Web.