HE 232 Science of Happiness

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Evaluates personal happiness and positive psychology applications in mental health. Explores the power of thinking for healthy behavior change and building emotional resiliency in all aspects of life by re-infusing passion and purpose. Examines several concepts, including but not limited to the concept of success, science of happiness, stress, depression, anxiety, growth mindset, and brain health. Creates real-life applications and strategies that students can add to their life-coping tool-kit.

Prerequisite: Placement into WR 090 (or higher) or completion of WR 115 (or higher) with a grade of C or higher; or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Identify key psychological factors behind healthy and unhealthy behaviors and habits.
Develop a personal perspective on the power of thought and a strong mind-body connection, and list underlying mental health factors that create barriers to happiness.
Define in one’s own terms what success means by applying course concepts to create a reframing and fresh perspective on gratitude, fulfillment, and satisfaction.
Construct links between changing a mindset to produce changing health outcomes.
Expand on the deeper mental and emotional connection regarding behaviors like procrastination, poor-eating, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, drugs, and alcohol as coping mechanisms for pain and vulnerability.
Describe what vulnerability is in personal terms and how it reveals a gateway to change.
Demonstrate keen understanding of the current science behind human happiness.
Design one’s life blueprint with goals of what happiness and an extraordinary life looks and feels like at its core.
Compare and contrast the power of laughter, humor, and connection with others versus isolation, depression and anxiety.
Create a case study of one area of one’s life that could be redesigned to unlock an extraordinary and happy life - looking at all the dimensions of wellness as a catalyst for understanding behaviors and change.

Content Outline

Psychology and the Good Life
- Positive psychology
- Behavioral change
Unlocking our potential
- Vulnerability and hope
Where do behaviors come from?
- Understanding the cycle of behavior
- Changing our perspective
Depression and anxiety disorders
Resulting Health Outcomes
- Optimism and pessimism
- Hope vs. hopelessness
Human happiness
- Current science
- Link between healthy lifestyle factors, brain function, and stress coping
Lay out blueprint events
- Past, present and future that help shape our vitality