That rush of excitement when a package arrives tends to fade fast. As part of its spring cleaning season, The Happiness Lab revisits one of its most beloved topics: why our culture is obsessed with accumulating possessions, and what the science says actually makes us happier.
Key Takeaways:
- Experiences Over Things: Researcher Amit Kumar finds that experiences bring more lasting joy than material purchases, in part because we don’t habituate to them the same way. Even the anticipation of an upcoming experience can boost well-being.
- The Diderot Effect: Psychologist Bruce Hood explains how buying one high-quality item can make everything else we own feel inadequate, triggering a costly and unsatisfying chain reaction of upgrades.
- Reframe What You Already Own: Some material possessions, like a bike or a cooking pan, are actually vehicles for experiences. Focusing on what you will do with something rather than its features can shift how much joy it brings.
The Happiness Lab explores the latest scientific research and shares surprising and inspiring stories that challenge how we think about happiness. New episodes usually air every Monday.
