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What is the secret of happiness? Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at UC Riverside, used to dread that question; she considered it reductive. As a leading expert on the science of happiness, however, it was an occupational hazard, and she would answer it by explaining that there are...
It’s long been said that writing an angry letter – but not mailing it —– is an effective way of venting without backlash. UC Riverside researchers say the converse — penning letters-never-sent expressing gratitude — carries a benefit, as well. There is an entire area of study in psychology devoted...
The lessons in today’s preschool animated series are a moonshot from the anvil-dropping antics of their parents’-parents’ generation. Case in point: UC Riverside psychology researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky is the “gratitude expert” for a new preschool animated series from Apple TV+, “ Sago Mini Friends.” The concept of gratitude is writ...
A pair of UCR studies reveal that living with a romantic partner helps people feel more socially connected during COVID-19. But no other pandemic-era social dynamic carries notable benefits, the researchers found: not your kids, not kibitzing with your bestie on FaceTime, and not your adorable-adoring pets. “Research prior to...
If you are an introvert, force yourself to be an extravert. You’ll be happier. That’s the suggestion of the first-ever study asking people to act like extraverts for a prolonged period. For one week, the 123 participants were asked to – in some cases – push the boundaries of their...
