Helping others makes us happier— but it matters how we do it - Elizabeth Dunn
331,728 Views
6,963 Questions Answered
TED Talk
Let’s Begin…
One of the best ways to increase your own happiness is to help other people. This turns out to be a cultural universal— an aspect of human nature that scientists have detected around the world. But, giving to others doesn’t always make people happier. So, what are the factors that determine whether good deeds produce good feelings? Elizabeth Dunn shares how we can make a greater impact— and boost our own happiness along the way.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
The speaker and her collaborators wrote about helping and happiness for the United Nations’ World Happiness Report; this article provides an accessible overview of the key findings in this area: Happiness and Prosocial Behavior: An Evaluation of the Evidence. The speaker and her collaborator wrote a New York Times article about why we often spend money in the wrong ways: "Don't Indulge. Be Happy."
Watch these recommended TED-Ed Lessons:
Would winning the lottery make you happier?
Imagine winning a multi-million dollar lottery tomorrow. If you’re like many of us, you’d be ecstatic, unable to believe your good luck. But would that joy still be there a few years later? Raj Raghunathan describes a phenomenon called hedonic adaptation, which may shed light on the answer.
The surprising science of happiness
Cognitive researcher Nancy Etcoff looks at happiness -- the ways we try to achieve and increase it, the way it's untethered to our real circumstances, and its surprising effect on our bodies.
Less stuff, more happiness
Writer and designer Graham Hill asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.
Watch these recommended TED-Ed Lessons:
Would winning the lottery make you happier?
Imagine winning a multi-million dollar lottery tomorrow. If you’re like many of us, you’d be ecstatic, unable to believe your good luck. But would that joy still be there a few years later? Raj Raghunathan describes a phenomenon called hedonic adaptation, which may shed light on the answer.
The surprising science of happiness
Cognitive researcher Nancy Etcoff looks at happiness -- the ways we try to achieve and increase it, the way it's untethered to our real circumstances, and its surprising effect on our bodies.
Less stuff, more happiness
Writer and designer Graham Hill asks: Can having less stuff, in less room, lead to more happiness? He makes the case for taking up less space, and lays out three rules for editing your life.
About TED Talk Lessons
TED Talk Lessons are created by TED-Ed using phenomenal TED Talks. Do you have an idea for a lesson? Create it now using any video from YouTube »
Meet The Creators
- Video created by TED
- Lesson Plan created by Mitzi Stover
