Stumbling on Happiness

Question 1

Which hypothesis does Stumbling on Happiness relate to?

A: Hypothesis 1: Situations are powerful

B: Hypothesis 3 - We don’t know what we don’t know

C: Hypothesis 5: People have two fundamental social motivations

Answer 1

B: Hypothesis 3 - We don’t know what we don’t know

Question 2

Why do we engage in prospection?

Answer 2

It brings us joy to think about the future

Can influence our current decision

The human capacity to imagine the future has significant evolutionary advantages, allowing us to prepare for and shape future outcomes unlike any other species

This ability shapes not only individual lives but also the course of societies and civilizations.

It can be enjoyable to just imagine something good happening in the future, which Gilbert says gives us “double the juice” from an experience.

Thinking about the future can influence the decisions that we make in the present.

From an evolutionary perspective, it allows us to prepare for and shape future outcomes, which was important for survival and planning ahead.

It relates to trying to anticipate potential negative events so we can either minimize their impact if they happen or plan to avoid them happening.

Question 3

Compare and contrast perception, memory, & imagination.

Answer 3

Perception (present) involves combining sensory information with our existing knowledge to interpret present experiences.

Memory (past) involves reconstructing and fabricating past events, which can be distorted by current emotions, moods, and other experiences. Over time, memories may come to include details that were not part of the original experience.

Imagination (future) involves filling in gaps and details automatically based on memory and perception, without consciously realizing it. This can lead to altered memories and predictions about future experiences.

All three involve some degree of “filling in” details, which can distort accuracy as our current state colors our perceptions of both past and future events. The lines between perception, memory, and imagination become blurred over time.

Question 4

What are some consequences of our failure to consider absences in the future?

Answer 4

Things we don’t think about or imagine in the future

Making wrong predictions because we don’t imagine things that may happen but aren’t currently considered

Saying yes to commitments in the distant future without considering near-term logistical details

Prioritizing options based only on their positives without weighing negatives

Experiencing surprise when unimagined events do occur

Question 5

What are some ways that we mispredict the future?

Answer 5

Our current emotions get mixed up with how we imagine our future emotions will be

We focus on abstract “why” things will happen in the distant future rather than concrete “how” details of the near future

We don’t account for how our psychological immune system may help us cope with or reframe negative events differently than we predict

Unexplained events have a disproportionate impact on our emotions because we can’t understand or explain them

Question 6

What’s the “psychological immune system?”

A: The brain’s defense mechanism that protects us from emotional threats and undesirable moods.

B: The cognitive processes that help us adapt to unexpected changes and challenges.

C: The mental strategies that prevent us from feeling overly confident in uncertain situations.

Answer 6

A: The brain’s defense mechanism that protects us from emotional threats and undesirable moods.

It works by manufacturing positive or credible views of otherwise negative situations in order to reduce feelings of anxiety.

It is more likely to be activated for threats that exceed a certain intensity threshold or are inescapable parts of our lives.

It allows us to reframe negative events and situations into more positive terms over time by finding silver linings or lessons learned.

Question 7

What can we do to more accurately predict our future feelings?

A: Ask other people who are currently experiencing situations we may face in the future about what it’s like.

feel.

C: Use logical reasoning to anticipate how we might react to future events based on current circumstances.

Answer 7

A: Ask other people who are currently experiencing situations we may face in the future about what it’s like.

This process of “surrogation” helps correct for biases in our own imagination by getting outside perspectives.

Rather than relying solely on our own unique perspective, asking others for their feelings and experiences provides a way to more accurately imagine how we may feel in different future circumstances.

Question 8

What distinguishes humans from other animals?

A: The use of complex language and symbols to communicate and share abstract ideas.

B: The ability to predict and imagine future events through conscious thought, rather than just reacting to present or very near-term circumstances like other animals.

C: The creation and use of tools to manipulate the environment in innovative ways.

Answer 8

B: The ability to predict and imagine future events through conscious thought, rather than just reacting to present or very near-term circumstances like other animals.

“The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future” (pg. 4)

“The greatest achievement of the human brain is [conscious experience…it is] the ability to imagine objects and episodes that do not exist in the realm of the real, and it’s this ability that allows us to think about the future.” (pg. 5)

The unique human ability to imagine and think about the future.

Thinking about and planning for distant future possibilities is presented as a distinctly human capacity.

Question 9

What’s Nexting?

A: The brain’s ability to continuously generate predictions about immediate future events based on current sensory input.

B: The process of using past experiences to anticipate long-term outcomes and future possibilities.

C: Using right now and just before to make a reasonable guess about what’s next. It’s not far-reaching and doesn’t require conscious thought.

Answer 9

C: Using right now and just before to make a reasonable guess about what’s next. It’s not far reaching & doesn’t require conscious thought.

Question 10

Predicting/imagining:

A: Involves creating mental simulations of potential future scenarios to guide decision-making.

B: Entails using past experiences and current knowledge to forecast near-term events without conscious effort.

C: Humans plan about the more distant future. This requires conscious thought.

Answer 10

C: Humans plan about the more distant future. This requires conscious thought.

Question 11

Which region of the brain allows humans to process and think about events further in the future, rather than just reacting based on present circumstances or the very near future like other animals?

A: Frontal Lobe
B: Ventral Striatum
C: Hippocampus

Answer 11

A: Frontal Lobe

Question 12

What do anxiety and planning have in common?

A: Both involve anticipating future events and potential outcomes.

B: Both are processes that engage the prefrontal cortex in the brain.

C: The frontal lobe.

Answer 12

C: The frontal lobe

The frontal lobe is involved in both anxiety and planning.

Question 13

List two notable results of frontal lobe lobotomies:

A: Lobotomies often resulted in significant personality changes and emotional blunting.

B: Lobotomies reduced anxiety but also impaired the ability to plan.

C: Patients experienced a loss of initiative and motivation, leading to apathy and lack of interest in daily activities.

Answer 13

B: Lobotomies reduced anxiety but also impaired the ability to plan

Question 14

Why do we seek control?

A: Initially, Gilbert argues that we seek control over the future to achieve desired outcomes, but later notes this is an illusion of foresight, as the future often differs from our expectations. Ultimately, the main reason we seek control is that it contributes to our sense of well-being, even if the actual outcomes are uncontrollable.

B: Seeking control helps reduce anxiety by creating a sense of predictability and stability in our lives.

C: We seek control to feel empowered and autonomous, which enhances our overall psychological resilience.

Answer 14

A: Initially, Gilbert argues that we seek control over the future to achieve desired outcomes, but later notes this is an illusion of foresight, as the future often differs from our expectations. Ultimately, the main reason we seek control is that it contributes to our sense of well-being, even if the actual outcomes are uncontrollable.

Question 15

What is the “filling-in-trick?”

A: The brain’s tendency to automatically complete missing information in visual perception to create a coherent picture.

B: Unconsciously adding fabricated details during cognitive acts like remembering, predicting, and perceiving.

C: The mental process of inferring missing information based on past experiences and existing knowledge.

Answer 15

B: Unconsciously adding fabricated details during cognitive acts like remembering, predicting, and perceiving.

The same shortcoming that causes us to misremember the past and misperceive the present also causes us to misimagine the future

Memory, perception, and imagination - these cognitive processes all involve some degree of automatically “filling in” or adding details without conscious awareness in order to interpret or reconstruct experiences.

This “filling in” can distort accuracy over time as it is influenced by current emotions, moods, and other factors.

Question 16

How do we generally think about things that are absent in our mental imaginations of the future?

A: We tend to ignore or not notice what our imaginations have missed when predicting future events. Our inability to think about absences is a source of error and can lead us to be surprised when unimagined possibilities do occur.

B: We often assume that unimagined elements are unimportant and unlikely to impact the outcome.

C: We believe that if something is not included in our imagination, it is less likely to happen.

Answer 16

A: We tend to ignore or not notice what our imaginations have missed when predicting future events. Our inability to think about absences is a source of error and can lead us to be surprised when unimagined possibilities do occur.

Question 17

How does our thinking differ when we are looking for something to select vs. reject?

A: When selecting, we are more likely to use logical reasoning, whereas when rejecting, we rely more on instinctive reactions.

B: When selecting, we are inclined to be optimistic about our choices, while when rejecting, we tend to be overly cautious and risk-averse.

C: When we are selecting, we consider the positive attributes of alternatives. When we are rejecting, we consider the negative attributes.

Answer 17

C: When we are selecting, we consider the positive attributes of alternatives. When we are rejecting, we consider the negative attributes.

Vacation example:
Extremia = Fantastic beaches + weather, terrible hotels, no nightlife

Moderacia = Average beaches, weather, nightlife, hotels

Q: Which island would you rather visit for a vacation? A: Extremia

Q: You have a reservation at both and need to cancel one. Which one do you cancel? A: Extremia

People preferred a vacation option described in only positive extreme terms when selecting, but chose the average option when one had to be rejected, as it neglected negatives.

Question 18

How do the near vs. distant future differ in terms of how we imagine each of them?

A: For the near future, we often focus on practical concerns and immediate actions, while the distant future is imagined in broader terms with less emphasis on specific steps.

B: The near future is typically imagined with greater certainty and clarity, whereas the distant future is often seen as more uncertain and open to multiple possibilities.

C: For the near past/future, our imagination is more detailed, smooth, and concrete about specifics of “how” things will unfold. In contrast, our view of the distant past/future is more abstract, blurry, and focused on general “why” things will happen rather than concrete details of “how” it will play out.

Answer 18

C: For the near past/future, our imagination is more detailed, smooth, and concrete about specifics of “how” things will unfold. In contrast, our view of the distant past/future is more abstract, blurry, and focused on general “why” things will happen rather than concrete details of “how” it will play out.

Question 19

What is Clarke’s first law?

A: Advanced scientific concepts will eventually become common knowledge.

B: Predicting that the future will be too much like the present. When our brains do the “filling-in trick,” they use today to remember the past or imagine the future. How I feel now influences how I remember feeling yesterday and how I predict I’ll feel tomorrow. This is especially powerful when it comes to remembering emotions.

C: Technology progresses at a rate that is often underestimated by society.

Answer 19

B: Predicting that the future will be too much like the present. When our brains do the “filling in trick,” they use today to remember the past or imagine the future. How I feel now influences how I remember feeling yesterday and how I predict I’ll feel tomorrow.
This is especially powerful when it comes to remembering emotions.

Question 20

Visual perceptions vs. visual imagination in the brain:

A: Visual perception: Object or event → VISION AREA → visual experience vs. Visual imagination: Memory → VISION AREA → visual experience. Rarely mix these up. Current emotions can influence future emotional predictions.

B: Visual perception directly impacts our actions, while visual imagination only affects our thoughts and planning.

C: Visual perception results from sensory input and is typically more accurate, whereas visual imagination is based on mental constructs and can be influenced by our current state of mind and past experiences.

Answer 20

A: Visual perception: Object or event → VISION AREA → visual experience vs. Visual imagination: Memory → VISION AREa → visual experience. Rarely mix these up. Current emotions can influence future emotional predictions.

Question 21

Feeling vs. prefeeling in the brain

Answer 21

We often mix up prefeeling (results from a flow of information originating in memory) with feeling (results from a flow of information that originates in the world/real objects or events)

We feel real emotions in response to actual objects or events we are perceiving or experiencing in the present.

We can also experience emotions from memories or imagination, which are considered “prefeelings” rather than direct feelings.

When it comes to emotions, what we are feeling currently often gets mixed up or conflated with how we imagine we will feel in the future (“prefeelings”).

This is why our current emotional state can influence how we predict our future emotions will be.

Feeling: Object or event → Vision area → visual experience + object or event → Vision area → emotion area → emotional experience

Prefeeling: Memory → Vision area → visual experience + memory → Vision area → emotion area → emotional experience

Question 22

What does our “psychological immune system” do?

A: The brain’s defense mechanism reframes negative situations into positive ones, reducing anxiety by finding silver linings or lessons learned.

B: It helps us forget traumatic experiences to protect our mental health.

C: It encourages us to avoid situations that might lead to negative outcomes, acting as a form of mental self-preservation.

Answer 22

A: The brain’s defense mechanism reframes negative situations into positive ones, reducing anxiety by finding silver linings or lessons learned.

Question 23

What are the two “triggers” to the psychological immune system?

A: Uncertainty & Fear

B: Stress & Anxiety

C: Intensity & Inescapability

Answer 23

C: Intensity & Inescapability

Intensity: It only responds to threats or negative experiences that exceed a certain critical intensity threshold. Minor negatives may not trigger it.

Inescapability: It is more likely to be activated for negative things that are essentially stuck with us or inescapable parts of our lives, like traits of siblings, rather than things we can avoid or change.

Question 24

Why do we mispredict how we’ll feel in the future?

A: We often base our predictions on current feelings and circumstances, assuming they will remain unchanged.

B: We don’t account for how the psychological immune system will likely help us cope with or reframe negative events differently than we predict.

C: We tend to underestimate the impact of future events on our emotions, believing they will have less effect than they actually do.

Answer 24

B: We don’t account for how the psychological immune system will likely help us cope with or reframe negative events differently than we predict.

Question 25

Do people tend to regret action or inaction more?

A: Regret
B: Inaction

Answer 25

B: Inaction

The psychological immune system has a more difficult time manufacturing positive views of inactions compared to things we did, so inactions are harder to justify positively in retrospect.

Question 26

Why do unexplained events have a disproportionate emotional impact?

Answer 26

Reason 1:
> Explanations allow us to understand how and why an event happened, which allows us to see how and why it might happen again.
> Unexplained events seem rare, and rare events have a greater emotional impact than common events.
> Explanations allow us to understand how and why an event happened, but unexplained events lack this understanding.

Reason 2:
> We are especially likely to keep thinking about them.
> They become a mystery.
> Unexplained events are more likely to stay on our minds longer because they become a “mystery” that we continue thinking about, allowing us to extract more positive emotions and feelings from the event for a prolonged period.

Question 27

How/why are false beliefs propagated in belief transmission?

A: False beliefs are often spread through social networks where people trust information from familiar sources without verifying its accuracy.

B: We pass along our beliefs because we are trying to create people whose minds think like ours.

C: Misinterpretations of information and lack of critical thinking skills contribute to the spread of false beliefs.

Answer 27

B: We pass along our beliefs because we are trying to create people whose minds think like ours

Question 28

What determines whether a belief will be successfully transmitted?

A: If it facilitates its own means of transmission

B: If it aligns with the cultural and social norms of the group.

C: If it is supported by evidence and logical reasoning that resonate with others.

Answer 28

A: If it facilitates its own means of transmission

Question 29

What is a super-replicator?

A: A belief that needs to be sustained in order for the society to thrive

B: A belief that spreads rapidly and widely because it is particularly appealing or beneficial to those who hold it.

C: A belief that is reinforced by social institutions and practices, ensuring its persistence across generations.

Answer 29

A: A belief that needs to be sustained in order for the society to thrive

E.g., “the joys of parenthood”

Question 30

What is surrogation?

A: Surrogation is the act of relying on statistical data to make decisions about future events.

B: Surrogation is the process of using analogies and metaphors to understand complex concepts.

C: Surrogation involves asking others about their current experiences to correct biases in our imagination and help us predict our future more accurately.

Answer 30

C: Surrogation involves asking others about their current experiences to correct biases in our imagination and help us predict our future more accurately.

Question 31

What are the 3 shortcomings of imagination that surrogation can remedy?

A: 1. Imagination tends to overestimate the impact of future events. 2. Imagination often simplifies complex situations. 3. Imagination can be influenced by unrealistic expectations.

B: 1. Imagination fills in and leaves out without us knowing it. 2. Imagination projects the present onto the future. 3. Imagination fails to recognize that things will look different when they happen.

C: 1. Imagination relies too heavily on past experiences. 2. Imagination creates overly optimistic scenarios. 3. Imagination ignores practical constraints and limitations.

Answer 31

B: 1. Imagination fills in and leaves out without us knowing it. 2. Imagination projects the present onto the future. 3. Imagination fails to recognize that things will look different when they happen

Question 32

Why don’t we rely on surrogates more?

A: 1. We are often unaware of the concept of surrogation. 2. We lack trust in the accuracy of other people’s experiences. 3. We prefer to make decisions based on data and evidence rather than personal anecdotes.

B: 1. We believe that our future circumstances will be completely different from others’. 2. We think that using surrogates undermines our autonomy. 3. We are more comfortable relying on expert opinions than on peer experiences.

C: 1. Our self-knowledge is unique because only we can know ourselves from the inside. 2. We enjoy seeing ourselves as special. 3. We overestimate others’ uniqueness and our own, focusing on differences and missing similarities.

Answer 32

C: 1. Our self-knowledge is unique because only we can know ourselves from the inside. 2. We enjoy seeing ourselves as special. 3. We overestimate others’ uniqueness and our own, focusing on differences and missing similarities.