Brianna Suggs

Dr. Jizi
UWRT 1102
21 February 2016

Double Entry Journal

The Surprising Science of Happiness Dan Gilbert
The Surprising Science Quote:
It turns out the pre-frontal cortexexperience
simulator.

lottery winners and paraplegics are equally

happy with their lives.

We synthesize happiness, but we think

happiness is a thing to be found.

Natural happiness is what we get when we get

what we wanted, and synthetic happiness is
what we make when we dont
And in our society, we have a strong belief
that synthetic happiness is of an inferior kind.
they really, truly changed their affective,
hedonic, aesthetic reactions to that poster.

It turns out that freedomis the friend of

natural happiness

Response:
Sets the groundwork for the idea that the mind
looks at all options. Perhaps this is why we
cant be happy with one option or a choice in
general. Does our pre-frontal cortex have a
grass is green on the other side mentality?
Relates to the previous article we read that
mentions that any moment will not drastically
change happiness in the long run, which backs
up this evidence as well. All about genetics and
predisposition.
It is very true! We are under the belief we can
find happiness when, as Gilbert mentioned,
we have a psychological immune system that
provide happiness for us. Maybe this part of
our brain is like a safety net to prevent humans
from depression, anxiety, etc
Find the silver lining, happens for a reason, etc.
There are many idioms and clichs that back
up the fact that we create happiness to boost
ourselves up.
Why? Doesnt everyone synthesize happiness?
Isnt is more common than natural happiness?
Synthesizing happiness is all about justifying
and creating a new view so you can be happy.
The patients may not remember it, but when
they made that choice, the psychological
immune system probably made a mental note
to alter perception. A strange thing for your
mind to do-playing tricks on itself
It is like my first response, perhaps you look at
all options so find the greenest grass. Freedom
is a friend because it lets us choose the best
option so we feel happier instead of having to
create a justification. It is interesting to see.

our longings and our worries are both to

some degree overblown

There could possibly be a link between

happiness and freedom. Kids, for example,
with strict parents versus ones that support the
childs decisions. Does a larger amount of
natural happiness combat depression that the
constant synthesis of happiness could cause?
Yes. I think our society forces us into decision
making and evaluation that make us question
our own choices. It is freedom with a price. We
would end up like the photography students,
unsure if we even like our decisions. Synthetic
happiness is an asset more than anything, it lets
the stress that can be overblown, calm because
we can validate a choice.