Changes

Research<ref name=":8">Røysamb, Espen & Tambs, Kristian & Reichborn-Kjennerud, Ted & Neale, Michael & Harris, Jennifer. (2004). Happiness and Health: Environmental and Genetic Contributions to the Relationship Between Subjective Well-Being, Perceived Health, and Somatic Illness.. ''Journal of personality and social psychology.'' 85. 1136-46. 10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1136. </ref> has suggested that happiness has genetic factors that account for substantial amounts of individual variation in well-being and health conditions. Despite the mounting evidence that genes play an important role in the etiology of well-being, personality, mental health, and physical illness, genetic and environmental influences on the covariance between SWB and physical health have been largely unexplored.<ref name=":8" /> In order to help understand happiness and alleviate the suffering, neuroscientists and psychologists have started to investigate the brain states associated with happiness components and to consider the relation to well-being. While happiness is in principle difficult to define and study, psychologists have made substantial progress in mapping its empirical features, and neuroscientists have made comparable progress in investigating the functional neuroanatomy of pleasure, which contributes importantly to happiness and is central to our sense of well-being.<ref>Kringelbach, M. L., & Berridge, K. C. (2010). The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure. ''Social research'', ''77''(2), 659–678.</ref>

Research<ref name=":8">Røysamb, Espen & Tambs, Kristian & Reichborn-Kjennerud, Ted & Neale, Michael & Harris, Jennifer. (2004). Happiness and Health: Environmental and Genetic Contributions to the Relationship Between Subjective Well-Being, Perceived Health, and Somatic Illness.. ''Journal of personality and social psychology.'' 85. 1136-46. 10.1037/0022-3514.85.6.1136. </ref> has suggested that happiness has genetic factors that account for substantial amounts of individual variation in well-being and health conditions. Despite the mounting evidence that genes play an important role in the etiology of well-being, personality, mental health, and physical illness, genetic and environmental influences on the covariance between SWB and physical health have been largely unexplored.<ref name=":8" /> In order to help understand happiness and alleviate the suffering, neuroscientists and psychologists have started to investigate the brain states associated with happiness components and to consider the relation to well-being. While happiness is in principle difficult to define and study, psychologists have made substantial progress in mapping its empirical features, and neuroscientists have made comparable progress in investigating the functional neuroanatomy of pleasure, which contributes importantly to happiness and is central to our sense of well-being.<ref>Kringelbach, M. L., & Berridge, K. C. (2010). The Neuroscience of Happiness and Pleasure. ''Social research'', ''77''(2), 659–678.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|+Comparison between Pleasure and Happiness

|+Comparison between Pleasure and Happiness<ref name=":6" />

!Happiness

!Happiness

!Pleasure

!Pleasure

|Makes the brain say "its enough"

|Makes the brain say "its enough"

|Makes the brain say "I want more"

|Makes the brain say "I want more"

|}

|}

An evolutionary perspective of happiness is that survival in early days was binary - a loss or gain. Humans are not designed to be happy or content. Instead, they are designed primarily to survive and reproduce, just like other creatures in the nature.  A state of contentment is discouraged by nature because it would lower the guard against possible threats to survival. Happiness is a proximate goal (success) while anxiety is a distant goal (failure) to achieve adaptation. And, not all forms of happiness can be explained by evolution; culture, and societies play a major role. The link between pleasure and happiness, however, has a long history in psychology. While some cultures define happiness as a function of good fortune and prosperity, others define it as personal well-being and satisfaction. Unhappiness, on the other hand, has its share of evolutionary significance. It is considered evolutionarily helpful since it gives rise to emotions like jealousy, distress, and horror which, in turn, give rise to the tendency to return to happiness. Unhappiness, misery, pain etc., prevent starvation and helps in the survival process of a human being. Hence people cannot stay happy all the time.<ref name=":6" />

An evolutionary perspective of happiness is that survival in early days was binary - a loss or gain. Humans are not designed to be happy or content. Instead, they are designed primarily to survive and reproduce, just like other creatures in the nature.  A state of contentment is discouraged by nature because it would lower the guard against possible threats to survival. Happiness is a proximate goal (success) while anxiety is a distant goal (failure) to achieve adaptation. According to the evolutionary theory of emotion, human emotions exist because they serve an adaptive role. Emotions motivate people to respond quickly to stimuli in the environment, which helps improve the chances of success and survival. But, not all forms of happiness can be explained by evolution; culture, and societies play a major role. The link between pleasure and happiness, however, has a long history in psychology. While some cultures define happiness as a function of good fortune and prosperity, others define it as personal well-being and satisfaction. Unhappiness, on the other hand, has its share of evolutionary significance. It is considered evolutionarily helpful since it gives rise to emotions like jealousy, distress, and horror which, in turn, give rise to the tendency to return to happiness. Unhappiness, misery, pain etc., prevent starvation and helps in the survival process of a human being. Hence people cannot stay happy all the time.<ref name=":6" />

 

=== Sukha/Ananda (Happiness) Vs Svasthya (Well-being) ===

=== Sukha/Ananda (Happiness) Vs Svasthya (Well-being) ===

=== Impact of Personality on Happiness ===

=== Impact of Personality on Happiness ===

Studies of personality and environmental correlates of happiness indicate that both these factors have a significant impact as happiness indicators.   

Studies of personality and environmental correlates of happiness indicate that both these factors have a significant impact as happiness indicators.<ref name=":6" /> 

 

 

# living with the past of future, anxious people live in the future while the depressed live in the past.   

=== Importance of studies about happiness ===

=== Importance of studies about happiness ===