![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pseudoname on May 29, 2006, at 13:30:04
Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist who just published "Stumbling on Happiness", will be interviewed in the second half of TV's Charlie Rose Show, tonight (Monday 5/29/06) on PBS stations in the U.S. He'll be interviewed by Harold Varmus of Sloan-Kettering, since Rose is still in the hospital, I think.
“Underneath [his] goofball brilliance, Gilbert has a serious argument to make about why human beings are forever wrongly predicting what will make them happy.”
Find a broadcast station & time or (later) watch the interview online here: http://www.charlierose.com/index.shtm
New York Times review & first chapter here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/books/review/07stossell.html
Posted by Dinah on May 30, 2006, at 9:22:05
In reply to Dan Gilbert (“Happiness”) on Ch. Rose tonight, posted by pseudoname on May 29, 2006, at 13:30:04
I watched it last night. I haven't read the book, but I've seen articles about the concept.
I'm not sure that my personal experience validates his findings. Not that that means anything globally. I just find that I'm really not more resilient than I think I am.
But maybe most people are. Maybe that's the difference between the emotionally healthy and the emotionally unhealthy.
Posted by Dinah on May 30, 2006, at 9:25:37
In reply to Dan Gilbert (“Happiness”) on Ch. Rose tonight, posted by pseudoname on May 29, 2006, at 13:30:04
I meant to thank you for bringing it to my attention. It was an interesting show, and it wrested me away from HGTV, which I've become addicted to lately.
Posted by fairywings on May 30, 2006, at 13:55:11
In reply to Dan Gilbert (“Happiness”) on Ch. Rose tonight, posted by pseudoname on May 29, 2006, at 13:30:04
Awhile back I read somewhere that Harvard's most popular class is a psych class on happiness ..... In the article there were a number of principles listed, but I don't remember what they were.
Wonder why it's so popular...wonder if students are finding it really helpful. Good they have that kind of class in college.
fw
Posted by pseudoname on May 30, 2006, at 16:04:14
In reply to Whoops. » pseudoname, posted by Dinah on May 30, 2006, at 9:25:37
> I meant to thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Thanks for saying so; you're welcome. I taped it but haven't seen it yet. I fell asleep during the Prairie Home Companion segment.
> it wrested me away from HGTV, which I've become addicted to lately.
My sister is an addict also. LOL.
Sudden thought: BABBLE TV! Wow! Can you imagine?!
Posted by pseudoname on June 1, 2006, at 11:39:23
In reply to Thanks; you're welcome » Dinah, posted by pseudoname on May 30, 2006, at 16:04:14
Hmm. I watched the interview. Hmm.
Several times since then I've wondered how applying his idea (that we humans are inherently lousy at predicting our own emotional responses) in my own daily life could change it.
Hmm. Hmm.
And I wonder how his data looks through the lens of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — and vice versa.
He said 90-100% of motivation is based on happiness. What on earth does that even mean?
“He concludes with the provocative recommendation that, rather than imagination, we should rely on others as surrogates for [predicting] our future experience.”
I guess I'll have to read the book.
• Daniel Gilbert (2006) "Stumbling on Happiness." $14.95 hardcover at Amazon
Posted by fairywings on June 1, 2006, at 13:50:29
In reply to Gilbert’s “Stumbling on Happiness”, posted by pseudoname on June 1, 2006, at 11:39:23
"...we should rely on others as surrogates for predicting our future experience." (?)
What does that mean?So, would that mean anyone who isolates is probably going to be unhappy? I'd guess it's a given - if you're older and have no one, you're probably loney and unhappy, but I don't know.
I've put a copy on reserve at the library. Sounds interesting - wonder if it correlates with the class taught at Harvard.
fw
Posted by pseudoname on June 1, 2006, at 14:20:27
In reply to Re: Gilbert’s “Stumbling on Happiness” » pseudoname, posted by fairywings on June 1, 2006, at 13:50:29
> "...we should rely on others as surrogates for predicting our future experience." (?)
> What does that mean?From the interview, I think he means that by watching how *other* people react emotionally over the long haul to various events, we can get a better view of how *we* will react. Like some friend we've observed, we won't have much more day-to-day happiness after finding romance, for example; or like someone else, we'll be just as happy again after declaring bankruptcy. Something like that.
That's his assertion, anyway.
> I've put a copy on reserve at the library.
Me too! :-) But I'm about #10 on the list.
Posted by agent858 on June 4, 2006, at 23:39:12
In reply to Re: Gilbert’s “Stumbling on Happiness” » fairywings, posted by pseudoname on June 1, 2006, at 14:20:27
i'm so glad i got to talk to you
i think you are wonderful
really
we had some great conversations
sorry we didn't have as many as i would have liked
i wish i could have met you
i would have given you a great big hug if that would have been okay with you
i think you are a really amazing sensitive sweet intelligent funny human being and your sisters husband has got to be a pretty insecure guy to be so upset with you. really. he probably only runs you down 'cause he is intimidated by your intelligence and niceness you know.i wish you could see the you i see
(((((pseudoname)))))
take care.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Psychology | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.