Teaching the Science of Happiness

APA/Clark University Workshop for High School Teachers2012

“The myriad things are complete in us. There is no greater joy than to reflect on ourselves and become sincere.” — Mencius

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. (Aristotle)http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/

Ideas for High School and College courses in Introductory Psychology

We encourage teachers to use the content in the History of Happiness and Science of Happiness in their own creative ways across different subject areas.  

http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/

.

.

For example, the History of Happiness modules can be readily be integrated into World History, World Cultures, Sociology and other social studies classes at the high school level

Health courses can incorporate some of the readings and concepts into their curriculum.

Length of time for Course or Curriculum

 

Since many High School Psychology courses are taught as 18 week electives, some teachers may choose to use only parts of the POH website to focus on certain concepts taught in their curriculum.

For example, when studying Motivation in Psychology students will discuss the Humanistic Theory of Maslow. They could use the information from this curriculum to further explore his ideas

http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/maslow-on-happiness/

Human life will never be understood unless its highest aspirations are taken into account. Growth, self-actualization, the striving toward health, the quest for identity and autonomy, the yearning for excellence (and other ways of phrasing the striving “upward”) must by now be accepted beyond question as a widespread and perhaps universal human tendency…

Happiness through purpose – students will explore different ways of increasing happiness through having a sense of purpose. Students will choose one of the topics listed below, doing the related readings and activities, and keeping a class blog of their experience and progress. After finishing all of the activities, students will develop their own presentation (in small groups) to share their findings with the class.

Motivation – Self Actualization

Motivation, Humanistic Theory – students will read the introductory content of the Maslow Modules. Students will complete a self-guided activity to identify their needs at all the levels and to identify how they were met and to what degree they satisfied them.

Students will then present their hierarchy of needs to the class using visual aids.

 http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/abraham-maslow/maslow-on-happiness

Sense of Purpose

First, students will watch the “Interview with the Expert” module on Victor Frankl .

http://www.ted.com/talks/viktor_frankl_youth_in_search_of_meaning.html

In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.

Comment on his remarks relating to students wanting to make a lot of money. Then read Man’s Search for Meaning. Students will complete a creative writing assignment about their most challenging life experience and how that has provided meaning

for their life now. Students will then present their findings to the class. 

OptimismEssential Question: How does optimism contribute to happiness? And is there hope for the pessimists of the world?

Pre-Reading Assignment: Introductory and intermediate content on Optimism (SOH).

http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/martin-seligman/

Discussion Topic: Students will read a chapter of Seligman’s Authentic Happiness that includes a self-assessment. Students will select a current event issue and analyze the optimism/pessimism of the character using the definition provided by Seligman.

Activity: Students will take one of the inventories from Authentic Happiness website and discuss the results of their inventory.

http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx

Practical assignment: Students will conduct an experiment for one week where they collect “evidence” of optimistic/pessimistic thinking from sources of their choice, including news media, friends, family, self, teachers, celebrities, academic characters, etc. They can either a) write an essay or daily blog entries, b) present to the class, or c) create a documentary short video that discusses trends they noticed during their data collection.

Character Strengths and Virtues

Essential Question: How do strengths and virtues contribute to happiness? Aristotle once claimed that virtue was THE essential ingredient to happiness. By the end of this mini-lesson, students should have formed an opinion about Aristotle’s claim

Pre-Reading Assignment – introductory and intermediate content on the character strengths and virtues section of the Science of Happiness (SOH) pages.http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/science-of-happiness/strengths-and-virtues/

Discussion - How do these two experts – an ancient philosopher and contemporary Psychologist – compare in how they view the essential ingredients of happiness?(and the teacher too )

Take the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire to determine your top three signature strengths:http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx(Note: you will have to register on the Authentic Happiness website first to take the test.  This is a short form that should take only a few minutes to complete).

Application – have students take the VIA Character Strengths and Virtues online assessment (free) and discuss results in small groups. Then, students can write and present to the class (or create a class blog or YouTube video) on a topic like: in what ways do my signature strengths contribute to my happiness?

Character Strengths and Virtues

What affects happiness the most? Can we arrive at some measure of happiness—Diener labels it

“Subjective Well being” - simply by asking someone: are you happy?

According to Diener there are three major components to SWB. Explain what they are.

How would you rate your happiness on a scale of 1-10? Are you satisfied with your life as a whole?

Is it really true that people are happy simply because they say or think they are?

Read the selection in the History of Happiness links on Ed Diener to answer these questions

http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/ed-diener/

Subjective Well Being Diener on Happiness

Find out more about Ed Deiner’s research by visiting http://internal.psychology.illinois.edu/~ediener/

 

Wikis and Blogs Students can work on projects together and they can

be posted on a Wiki which can be used in the classroom or individually by students at home.

Blogs can be used for discussion outside of the classroom, and students can post questions and comments related to topics being covered in lessons.

http://getpsyched.wikispaces.com/Project+Happiness

This is a page from my Wiki that I used with Psychology students in my AP Psychology class after exams were over

Dr. David Myers Hope CollegeArticles on Happiness

http://www.davidmyers.org/Brix?pageID=47

Get Psyched Wiki Open the link under the Science of Happiness and read about one of the

individuals highlighted and write a formal summary, or make a PowerPoint presentation you can share with the class on the information you have read.

After the AP test is over , during the month of JUNE I hope you will participate in the research project we will be doing. You can survey individuals , make a video to put on this website and/or on the Happiness Facebook page, or you can participate in the research being conducted by the U of Penn by Dr. Seligman.

III The Positive Psychology Center at the University of Penn

Positive Psychology :**Readings and Videos on Positive Psychology U of Penn**

Take one of the Positive Psychology Questionnaires:**Open this link Questionnaires** http://www.whatisyourhappiness.com/

IV H-Factor ...Where is your heart? Check out this video and website that was created by Lisa Cypers Kamen. She has some really interesting info on her website. It might give you some ideas and resources for your research project (JUNE)

Resources Syllabus: Flourishing Psychology 403, Professor Jon Haidt Fall 2004, University of Virginia Wed. 9:15-11:45, Gilmer B001 http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/flourishingsyllabushaidt.pdf

Syllabus: Human Flourishing Dr. Griff Blakewood and Dr. Rick Swanson www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~

ras2777/flourishing/flourishingsyllabus.htm Course Description: Ancient and modern ideas about maximum human

flourishing, from Aristotle to modern psychological and philosophical theories. Topics will include happiness, character traits and virtues such as wisdom, courage, moderation, justice, optimism, gratitude, and compassion; physical and psychological health and well-being; and creating meaningful, fulfilling activities, achievements, relationships, careers, and spirituality. Strong experiential component in practicing elements of human flourishing.

Other Internet Resources

The Science of Happiness BBC News http://

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/happiness_formula/4783836.stm

WATCH ONLINE What is happiness? Think yourself happy Politics of happiness Power of happiness The happiness recipe Happiness in Bhutan

Stumbling on happiness Daniel Gilbert, keynote speaker at this year’s APA Annual Convention, discusses how his research changed his own life

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/05/happiness.aspx

Internet Resources APA Teachers of Psychology In

Secondary Schools Unit Plans Motivation Positive Psychology

If you are a member of APA you can access these unit plans at the TOPSS website

http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/index.aspx

APA Monitor Nov 2010 Page 40 Revisiting Philosophy with fMRI

A new generation of philosophers is using Behavioral science tools to test long-

standing questions about human morality

How fMRI Workshttp://science.howstuffworks.com/fmri.htm

Internet ResourcesPositive Psychology News Daily  http://positivepsychologynews.com/

Positive Psychology & the Buddhist Path of CompassionLorne Ladner, Ph.D http

://www.buddhanet.net/compassion.htm

Lesson Plan TemplateUnit – Big Idea or Concept where this lesson might be used.Example: Motivation POH: Links to Correlates of Happiness or Specific Topics in Science or History of Happiness Example: Self- Fullfillment ** 

Lesson Title: Example: Humanistic Theory - Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs  

Grade Level and Course:Example: High School Introduction to Psychology

Lesson Plan Template

Individual Variation Domain Standard Area: Motivation

Content StandardsAfter concluding this unit, students understand:1. Perspectives on motivation2. Domains of motivated behavior in humans and non-human animals

Lesson Plan Template Content Outline: Example: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs 1. Needs are ordered from basic survival to psychological

needs: physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem, self-actualization and transcendence.

2. Each successive level of the hierarchy is addressed only after the preceding level’s needs have been met

3. Criticisms of the theory

Activities: Example: Students will graphically represent Maslow’s

hierarchy and classify the options according to Maslow’s scale. Students will then identify how they are functioning at each level of the hierarchy by stating examples of their needs at each level and determining how well their needs are being met.

Discussion in Class, Handouts: Hierarchy Graphic Organizer, Computer Lab: POH website and others researching Maslow

BE CREATIVE! RESEARCH, PRESENTATIONS, NEWSLETTERS, A WEBSITE PAGE FOR THE SCHOOL

Lesson Plan Ideas IF you would like to contribute a

lesson plan that incorporates the POH website with your course curriculum , please send your ideas to us!!!

On the website there is a link to Teacher Resources and lesson and unit plan ideas will be included.

Learn More!!! Our next live webinar on the “Science of

Happiness: 7 Habits of Happy People” will take place on Saturday August 25, 2012, 9:30-10:50am EST

It is FREE!!!! Happiness on Facebook

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT This two week course is offered from July 28 to August 11, 2012. The course fee is $250 ($150 for students). Successful graduates of the course will receive a certificate of completion (in PDF format) signed by the instructors.

Thank you!! If you would like to get in touch with me,

I can be reached at debrapark@msn.com