Overview
- Provides a unique angle on what positive feeling, or happiness, is about
- Helps the individual improve his/her life
- Suggests preventive options to reduce mental agony and suffering in society
- Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research (BRIEFSWELLBEING)
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About this book
The brief presents a model for happiness based on current knowledge in evolutionary biology and neurobiology. Briefly, the primary purpose of nervous systems is to direct an animal toward behaviour relevant for survival and procreation. In primitive animals actions are based on reflexes, while in humans the modules directing behaviour engage positive and negative affect (good and bad feelings), and they are swayed by cognitive processes. The reason why evolution opted for this strategy was the improved flexibility in response – i.e., we learn from previous experiences. The human capacity for happiness is an accidental consequence.
An array of brain modules has evolved to care for various pursuits, but recent studies suggest that they converge on shared neural circuits designed to generate positive and negative mood. Happiness can be construed as the net output of the relevant modules. The briefs suggests a strategy for how to avoid having negative feelings (such as anxiety, depression and chronic pain) dominate the mind, and how to exercise positive feelings. In short, the book offers both a deeper understanding of what happiness is about, and a framework for improving well-being.
An array of brain modules has evolved to care for various pursuits, but recent studies suggest that they converge on shared neural circuits designed to generate positive and negative mood. Happiness can be construed as the net output of the relevant modules. The book suggests a strategy for how to avoid having negative feelings (such as anxiety, depression and chronic pain) dominate the mind, and how to exercise positive feelings. In short, the book offers both a deeper understanding of what happiness is about, and a framework for improving well-being.
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Keywords
Table of contents (7 chapters)
Authors and Affiliations
About the author
Bjørn Grinde received his education in the natural sciences, psychology, and anthropology from the University of Oslo, ending with a Dr.scient and Dr.philos in biology. He is presently employed as Chief Scientist at the Division of Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health. He has previously served as scientist and professor at top universities in Norway, United States and Japan. A lasting focus has been to understand the process of evolution, particularly how it has formed the human brain and our capacity to enjoy life. He has written several books, including Darwinian Happiness – a book that suggests how the biological perspective can be used for guidance in living.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Biology of Happiness
Authors: Bjørn Grinde
Series Title: SpringerBriefs in Well-Being and Quality of Life Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4393-9
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Author(s) 2012
Softcover ISBN: 978-94-007-4392-2Published: 02 April 2012
eBook ISBN: 978-94-007-4393-9Published: 30 March 2012
Series ISSN: 2211-7644
Series E-ISSN: 2211-7652
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 109
Number of Illustrations: 29 b/w illustrations
Topics: Quality of Life Research, Quality of Life Research, Neuropsychology