• Professor Meike Bartels: One size does not necessarily fit all when creating happiness programs; Dr Roderick Hanson enlightens participants on governments hardwiring the idea of happiness 

Dubai, UAE, February 12, 2017:  Professor Meike Bartels and Dr Roderick Hanson today provided insights into how governments should not apply a ‘one size fits all’ approach when creating national happiness programs. In addition, say the experts, government should implement positive experiences that have a lasting effect so that people understand their benefits and contribution to personal prosperity and fulfillment.

The discussions took place during a session themed ‘The Science of Happiness’ at Global Dialogue for Happiness ahead of the World Government Summit (WGS) 2017 in Dubai.

Opening the session with a talk entitled ‘Do you have the happiness gene?’ was Professor Meike Bartels, University Research Chair in Genetics and Wellbeing at the Department of Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Outlining her latest findings that some people can be born with more happiness genes than others, she said: “People that have the same happiness levels have similar DNA, which, for the first time ever, shows evidence of the genetic connection in determining factors for well-being.”

She added: “People with genomes that have a predisposition to happiness have a greater tendency to be happy. However, this does not mean that people with lower predisposition to happiness cannot live a happy life. Your environment, background and experiences can also alter your ability to be happy.”

Governments should fundamentally understand that people are different. Professor Bartels said: “Our studies on the link between the happiness gene and happy people serve to inform us that people are different and a ‘one size fits all’ approach will not work. Governments must start out by developing different intentions to ensure happiness in society and listen to what people would like to see and do that will allow them to achieve happiness, not the other way around.”    

Building upon the research insights into the connection between human happiness and genetics was a talk entitled Inside the Happy Brain by Rick Hanson, psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author.

Dr Hanson pointed out that in psychological studies, individuals have the power to “change their brain on the inside for the better”. He said: “In an individual, the brain routinely scans for bad news and fast-tracks it to emotional memory, despite having positive thoughts that surround it.”

When applying the topic of happiness to governmental policies there is a need to reverse this kind of activity in the individual so that the negative thoughts do not impact them. Dr Hanson added: “Happiness depends on internal psychological resources, such as people having the power to identify what aspects of life make them happy, and people need to get better at doing this.”

He therefore proposes that governments focus on a ‘second phase’ of learning for societies. He believes that people can hardwire their brain to think positively using a four-step HEAL method he developed, which will ultimately lead to happiness.

Dr Hanson  said: “It is not enough for people to have positive experiences. Professionals and the public are generally good at activation but bad at installation. This presents governments with an opportunity.  

“If we can teach learning mechanisms that allow the brain to hardwire positive experiences to happiness – especially in coaching, psychotherapy, human resources training and mindfulness programs – this will make a significant contribution to the happiness of nations as the idea becomes commonplace and associated with prosperity and fulfillment.”

The World Government Summit (WGS) 2017 has drawn the participation of more than 4,000 personalities from 139 countries around the world, reflecting the leading stature of the summit on regional and international levels and the high interest from governments, global organizations, private and public sector entities, decision makers, entrepreneurs, academics and university students as well as scientists and innovators. WGS 2017 features 150 speakers across 114 sessions that highlight the world’s most pressing challenges and showcase best practices and cutting-edge solutions to deal with them.