Following large weekend crowds, and reports of polls showing Vancouver residents feeling more positive about the Olympic Games, UBC offers commentary from happiness researchers on what might account for uncharacteristic celebration and coming together in the city.
Psychology professor Elizabeth Dunn and Economics professor John Helliwell are helping lead a new scholarly focus on happiness, and their recent studies on happiness can be reviewed at: http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2010/02/08/happiness-under-a-microscope-ubc-helps-lead-a-new-scholarly-focus-on-wellbeing/
John Helliwell, Professor Emeritus, Economics
“Even if nobody is out doing street surveys, it is likely that people in Vancouver are happier during the Olympic Games. The primary beneficiaries are likely to be those who are involved as volunteers, or who are trying, in other ways, to give visitors a warm welcome to Canada. Others may get some spinoffs from the extra happiness of their more involved family and friends, since happiness, like the proverbial smile, is contagious.”
Contact: 604.822.4953 ; john.helliwell@ubc.ca
Elizabeth Dunn, Assistant Professor, Psychology
Areas of research happiness, prosocial behavior, money and happiness, emotion, predicting emotions, moods, self-knowledge, stereotypes, savoring
Contact: 604.827-3144 ; edunn@psych.ubc.ca
Visit UBC’s Online 2010 Media Centre — www.ubc.ca/2010media — to connect with UBC 2010 experts, story ideas and students from your country.
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