I appreciate that there’s a fair amount of effort in organising the course—thank you for giving it a shot and for sharing your thoughts.
I’ve run this course with friends and acquaintances several times since posting this. Although the content is no longer new, I do find it valuable to be reminded to apply it, and I also find it useful as a social bonding exercise. I do think it tends to increase my happiness, but that the effects fade over time.
Regarding the 4 mechanisms mentioned, I think I believe 4 and 2⁄3 the most. I think the programme, as typically run, would likely select for people who are lonely/going through mental health struggles—people drawn to volunteering to participate in a happiness course will be those who think they need it. I can see the programme being particularly helpful for people going through mental health difficulties, and perhaps of more limited utility for people who are already quite happy.
When I initially ran the course, the participants didn’t know each other very well and I think it was very helpful as a bonding exercise. This may have had less value in your group if you already knew each other quite well?
I do agree that the material tends to present research results somewhat uncritically—this was and has been a common point of discussion for us—and that the material could benefit from being more action oriented. I’ve seen the first session of the newer version of the materials, and it seems more concise and action-oriented: I think they’re shifting more towards trying to cultivate regular habits to increase happiness as opposed to once-off actions.
I appreciate that there’s a fair amount of effort in organising the course—thank you for giving it a shot and for sharing your thoughts.
I’ve run this course with friends and acquaintances several times since posting this. Although the content is no longer new, I do find it valuable to be reminded to apply it, and I also find it useful as a social bonding exercise. I do think it tends to increase my happiness, but that the effects fade over time.
Regarding the 4 mechanisms mentioned, I think I believe 4 and 2⁄3 the most. I think the programme, as typically run, would likely select for people who are lonely/going through mental health struggles—people drawn to volunteering to participate in a happiness course will be those who think they need it. I can see the programme being particularly helpful for people going through mental health difficulties, and perhaps of more limited utility for people who are already quite happy.
When I initially ran the course, the participants didn’t know each other very well and I think it was very helpful as a bonding exercise. This may have had less value in your group if you already knew each other quite well?
I do agree that the material tends to present research results somewhat uncritically—this was and has been a common point of discussion for us—and that the material could benefit from being more action oriented. I’ve seen the first session of the newer version of the materials, and it seems more concise and action-oriented: I think they’re shifting more towards trying to cultivate regular habits to increase happiness as opposed to once-off actions.