In this episode of The Happiness Lab, Dr. Laurie Santos explores research from Dr. Lyubomirsky’s and Dr. Reis’ newly released book “How to Feel Loved”. They talk about how love actually works, why our biases toward threat or rejection prevent us from noticing when love is present, and what helps us feel more genuinely cared for.
Key takeaways include:
- Love is felt through responsiveness: Love is shaped by judgments about whether others understand us, value us, and respond to our needs, not just by grand gestures.
- Small moments matter more than we think: Texts, favors, shared laughter, and everyday kindnesses accumulate into a lasting sense of being loved.
- Love is reciprocal: Expressing care in ways that make others feel understood and appreciated makes those same feelings more likely to return.
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.
