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Professor of History
Darrin McMahon
Historian specializing in the cultural and intellectual history of happiness. McMahon traces how happiness evolved from a philosophical ideal to a modern personal obsession, examining the historical forces that shaped contemporary expectations.
Known For
Happiness historiographyCultural history of modern selfhoodPhilosophy of emotion in Western thought
Canon
Beliefs Shape Perception and Define Possibility
Canon
The Easterlin Paradox: Income and Happiness Plateau Beyond Sufficiency
Canon
The Hedonic Treadmill — Happiness Returns to Baseline
Canon
Meaning Comes from Responsibility, Not Happiness
Canon
Close Relationships Are the Strongest Predictor of Life Satisfaction
Canon
Books
■Happiness: A History(2006)