Schedule of Readings

Introduction & course overview

Anomalies in decision making (& review of standard economic theory)

Libertarian Paternalism

What is happiness and can we measure it reliably?

The progress paradox: why are we not happier if we are richer?

Consumerism & the paradox of choice

The macro& microeconomics of happiness

Should we maximize happiness?

Positive psychology & the happiness advantage

Meditation, drugs & reciprocity

Meditation, prozac, and Freud

Readings

Buddha, Dhammapada (whole book)
[JH] Ch.2
Shapiro, S., Schwartz, G. E. R., & Santerre, C. (2002). Meditation and positive psychology. In Handbook of Positive Psychology.
Moderate exercise not only treats, but also prevents depression [read here]
One minute meditation [watch here]

Media

Reciprocity, gratitude, and the common good

Readings

Media

Assignments

Reflect on how often you engage in philanthropic activities as compared to pleasurable ones. How do you feel after each type of activity? Engage in one act of kindness (other than spending money) and one act of pleasure, and answer the following: What were the two activities you engaged in? What were the specific differences in each type of activity? What type of emotions did you feel during each type of activity? How long did the generally positive emotions experienced during each type of activity remain with you afterward? (you don’t need to write a paper)
Spend $5 on yourself and then $5 on somebody else (roommate, friend, stranger, etc.) Repeat the reflections above.
Smile at 5 strangers and note if they smile back at you. Come to class ready to share your experiences. [+1]
[SP 4] Finally, start keeping a gratitude journal. Before going to bed each night, write a list of three things about your day for which you’re grateful. Some days you’ll have exciting things to write down, and some days you’ll be writing down simple joys (e.g. I enjoyed my coffee in the morning). You can find more gratitude exercises from the following list [right here]. Submit a short 1 page reflection on the exercise four weeks from now. [+5]

Love, attachment & flow

Growth by adversity & awe & beauty

Spirituality, strength, and virtues

Week 13: Where do we go from here?

Student presentations