Monday, 20 May 2013

Skip to main content

UN in your language

Teach Teens Happiness

2

Teenagers constitute a unique societal subset in Western society, with their own way of living, thinking, and communicating. The world might be at their fingertips, but rising teen suicide statistics reveal another side of the happiness coin[1].

So what is it that our young people are lacking? Can happiness be fostered, or even better, taught?

A British professor from Wellington College, Ian Morris, experimented in 2006 with how to teach happiness to young people in school. His aim was to provide young people with the skills they needed in order to live successfully, to increase awareness of themselves and others, and to improve their resilience. The ongoing program is aimed at responding to the students needs. [2]

According to this philosophy, schools should be places of enchantment, wonder and joy. Instead, they are all too often about testing, conformity and exams; about dividing up those who pass from those who don’t. A recent study shows that school is the most prominent source of stress amongst 12 to 17 year olds[3]. Maybe it is time for a radical change?

Dr. Kate McReynolds, a Clinical Psychologist from New York University concludes in one of her studies that the predominant factor listed by young people as being integral to their happiness was positive relationships with family and friends. Additionally, religion received a moderately high ranking, with almost no one listing money. According to Dr. Reynolds, if society values the happiness of students, schools should increase the focus on more relevant learning experiences as well as more time with family and friends. According to McReynolds, “time with nature, hanging out with friends, spiritual practices, or leisurely activities are now at odds with today’s culture of goal-directed, efficient, wealth-producing efforts.”[4]

Though today’s society tends to rely heavily on schools for the formation of its youth, it’s important to keep in mind that even if our schools and academic environments reform their teachings, family remains the first and most influential environment in which children and teens evolve and develop self-identity. In other words, happiness starts at home.


[1] Cf. Youth suicide fact sheet 2005, http://www.suicidology.org/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=232&;name=DLFE-24.pdf

[2] Ian Morris, happiness teacher at Wellington College in Crowthorne, http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/teaching-happiness-at-wellington-college-2926

[4] Ibid.

Interview with Leo Bormans

Interview with Leo Bormans, editor of "The World Book of Happiness"

Related links

• International Day of Happiness – 20 March
• Happiness and Well-being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm (High-level meeting, UN Headquarters, 2 April 2012)
• Report of the Meeting
• World Happiness Report
• UN documents on "Happiness"


Facts:

  • Happiness: a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. [1]
  • The International Day of Happiness is celebrated on 20th March when the sun is on the same plane as the earth’s equator so that day and night are of equal length, creating balance in the earth’s celestial coordinate systems.
  • Physically happiness is created by four different brain chemicals; endorphin, , dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin [2]
  • Human relationships are the most important external factor affecting happiness. The extent to which a country’s inhabitants trust each other turns out to be a major determinant of happiness in a society. [3]
  • Studies in UK and US reveal that the populations’ happiness and satisfaction levels have remained the same despite massive economic growth the last decades. [4]

[1] Wordnet 3.0, 2012)

[2] (L. G. Breuning, Phsycology today, 2011)

[3] R. Layard, Happiness, 2011, (second ed.) p63-64, 68-9, 80-82)

[4] (For U.S., Gallup Poll and General Social Survey. For U.K., Gallup and Eurobarometer)