hackertube.io

The surprising science of happiness | Dan Gilbert

TED · talk · Watch on YouTube

Psychology & human behavior

What it is

Psychologist Dan Gilbert argues in this TED talk that our psychological immune system lets us become happy even when things do not go as planned. He challenges the idea that we will be miserable if we do not get what we want.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN cites it as one of the best TED talks and as evidence that people adapt to and come to like outcomes they cannot change.

  • 2 people recommended it
  • 2 different months
  • 1 strong recommendations
  • first 2021, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “is one of the best TED talks of all time”

    Funny 20-minute talk on how brains relate to happiness

    carlossouza, 2023-06 · Strong recommendation · in “Happiness is a reward from our ancestors”

  2. “My favourite TED talk pairing is Dan Gilbert's Surprising Science of Happiness”

    Evidence that people grow to like what they cannot change

    jodrellblank, 2022-07 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: I’m 41 and still unmarried – what should I do?”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: happiness, dan gilbert, ted talk, decision making, synthetic happiness

Also recommended by the same people