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The Happiness Lab · June 29, 2026 · 46m

Why the “Pursuit of Happiness” Is a Bad Idea

Birgit Koopmann-Holm, Darrin McMahon, Iris Mauss, Lahnna Catalino
Apple PodcastsShow Notes

Dr. Laurie Santos travels to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to explore what Thomas Jefferson and the founders really meant by the “pursuit of happiness” and how that meaning has shifted over time. She speaks with historian Darrin McMahon about the transformation from a vision of civic virtue to a modern quest for personal pleasure, and with psychologist Iris Mauss about research showing that actively chasing happiness can backfire, leaving people less satisfied. The episode examines why happiness pursuits often fail and highlights alternative approaches — like prioritizing positive activities and focusing on others — that actually lead to greater well‑being.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Canon

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The Paradox of Pursuing Happiness
Research by Iris Mauss shows that valuing happiness as a goal and actively trying to be happy can backfire, leading to lower well‑being, particularly in Western cultures.
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Focusing on Others Makes You Happier
A key conclusion of the episode is that the best path to a good life involves shifting attention away from our own happiness and toward helping and connecting with other people.
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Highlights

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From Public Virtue to Private Feeling
Historian Darrin McMahon explains that the eighteenth‑century phrase “the pursuit of happiness” originally meant the quest for a well‑ordered, virtuous, and publicly useful life — not a subjective state of good feelings.
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Prioritizing Positivity
Psychologist Lahnna Catalino suggests a more effective approach than trying to be happy: deliberately schedule activities that naturally elicit positive emotions.
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Editorial

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Cultural Scripts for Comfort
Birgit Koopmann-Holm’s research reveals that Americans often shy away from acknowledging negativity when offering sympathy, while Germans are more comfortable sitting with someone’s sadness.
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References

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Happiness: A History — Darrin McMahon (2006) — Explores how the concept of happiness has changed from a public good to a private feeling
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A Dictionary of the English Language — Samuel Johnson (1755) — Shows how words like happiness once meant ‘good fortune’ rather than a subjective state
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Democracy in America — Alexis de Tocqueville (1835) — Early observation of Americans’ restless pursuit of material well‑being
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Declaration of Independence — Thomas Jefferson et al. (1776) — The founding document that framed happiness as an inalienable right

Misc

✧Laurie Santos records part of the episode inside Independence Hall, the room where the Declaration was signed
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