Memory Ted Talk- (psy 301)
Introduction to Happiness Research
A notable increase in books about happiness has been published in recent years, suggesting heightened interest.
Despite the growth in happiness literature and coaching, there are cognitive traps that complicate our understanding of happiness.
This talk focuses on these cognitive traps affecting both laypeople and scholars.
Cognitive Traps in Understanding Happiness
1. Reluctance to Admit Complexity
The term "happiness" is overused and no longer a useful descriptor.
A more nuanced understanding of well-being is necessary to move beyond simplistic interpretations.
2. Confusion Between Experience and Memory
Differentiating between:
Being happy in the moment (experiencing self)
Reflecting on happiness (remembering self)
Both concepts are often conflated under the general term of happiness.
3. The Focusing Illusion
We misjudge the importance of specific circumstances affecting well-being, leading to distorted perceptions.
A common cognitive error that fails to assess happiness objectively.
The Experiencing Self vs. the Remembering Self
Two distinct selves govern our understanding of life experiences:
Experiencing Self: Engages in present moments; knows current feelings and emotions.
Remembering Self: Remembers past experiences and evaluates life events; compiles a narrative.
Example: A symphony example demonstrates how a single negative end note influenced the memory of an otherwise positive experience.
The Impact of Memory on Happiness Perception
Distinct memory formation can lead to differing assessments of suffering:
Example involving two patients undergoing colonoscopies shows how memory influences perceived pain.
Patient A, despite enduring more pain, recalled the experience more negatively than Patient B due to the structure of their pain narrative (peak-end rule).
Importance of Storytelling in Memory
The remembering self is akin to a storyteller, crafting narratives based on significant experiences.
Memories are influenced more by their endings than by the overall duration of experiences.
The remembering self’s perspective often overshadows real experiences, focusing on memory revision rather than experiential truths.
Temporal Perception in Happiness
Time impacts the narratives constructed by the remembering self:
Example of two-week vacations: The end of the first week influences satisfaction for the remembering self.
Experiences are transient, while memories endure—leading to potential mismatches in expectation vs. reality.
Decision Making Influenced by Remembering Self
Decisions are often based on memories rather than present experiences.
If individuals have memories of experiences (like surgeries), they choose based on perceived memories rather than actual encounters.
This dynamic can create a skewed perception of what constitutes happiness.
Examples from Personal Experience
Recalling a transformative trip to Antarctica highlights how memories can be disproportionately weighed against actual lived experiences.
Thought experiment: Considering choosing vacations without retaining memories raises questions about personal motivations and influences of memory on happiness.
Different Concepts of Happiness
Experiencing Self Happiness: Concerned with moment-to-moment happiness.
Remembering Self Happiness: Linked to life satisfaction and overall life evaluation.
Low correlation between the satisfaction assessments of the two selves; satisfaction does not adequately inform us about daily experiences.
The Role of Context in Happiness Assessment
Perceptions of happiness can be misleading due to biases based on context (such as comparing states like California versus Ohio).
People's reflective evaluations often do not align with the actual emotional experiences they have in different environments.
Conclusion
Navigating the complexities of happiness requires a clearer understanding of how experience and memory operate in shaping our well-being.
Recognizing the disparity between the experiencing self and the remembering self is crucial for a comprehensive view of happiness.