Lecture Notes: The Evolution and Psychology of the Human Brain

Introduction

• Human brain evolution over 2 million years
  • Nearly tripled in size
  • Developed new structures, including the prefrontal cortex

The Prefrontal Cortex

• Functions as an "experience simulator"
  • Allows humans to simulate experiences before trying them in real life
  • Unique adaptation compared to ancestors and other animals
  • Example: Avoiding undesired experiences by simulating them mentally

Experience Simulation Exercise

• Comparing imagined futures: winning the lottery vs. becoming paraplegic
  • Common expectation: lottery winners are happier
  • Reality: Both groups report similar happiness levels after one year

The Impact Bias

• Research shows the tendency to overestimate the impact of future events on happiness
  • Known as the "impact bias"
  • Events have less impact than expected, in both intensity and duration
  • Example: Major life traumas have little long-term impact on happiness

Synthesizing Happiness

• Concept: Happiness can be "synthesized"
  • Psychological immune system helps change perception of the world
  • People synthesize happiness but often underestimate this ability
  • Examples of individuals synthesizing happiness despite setbacks

Synthetic vs. Natural Happiness

• Distinction between natural happiness (getting what we want) and synthetic happiness (making happiness with what we have)
  • Society often views synthetic happiness as inferior
  • However, synthetic happiness is equally real and enduring

Experimental Evidence

• Free Choice Paradigm: Experiment showing synthesis of happiness
  • Participants rank and choose prints, then re-rank after a choice
  • People tend to like their own choice more after making it
  • Amnesiac study: Synthesized happiness occurs even without memory of the choice

Freedom and Happiness

• Freedom to choose affects synthetic happiness
  • Limitation or lack of choice enhances synthetic happiness
  • People often prefer to keep their options open, leading to dissatisfaction

Conclusion

• Boundaries of ambition and fear
  • Overrating differences between futures can lead to unhappiness
  • Encouragement to recognize and utilize the ability to synthesize happiness

These notes cover the key points and ideas presented in the lecture, offering insights into human brain evolution, the concept of synthetic happiness, and the psychological mechanisms underpinning our perceptions of happiness.