Yichen Song Craft of Prose The Happiness Hypothesis Abstract What makes us happy and how do we achieve it?

Though this question has been processed by hundreds of years of scrutiny by various cultures and philosophies, there is still no finite answer. There is a dichotomy of beliefs, between geological areas, self and group, science and religion, old and new. In the positive psychology book The Happiness Hypothesis, author Jonathan Haidt from the University of Virginia delves into the intricacies of the mind and explains what really makes us tick. In this work, he compiles and synthesizes information from different time periods and introduces his own ideas on happiness. Haidt concludes that due to a divided mind, people should seek happiness in a balanced manner through a dynamic interplay of different sources and values. The mind comprehends the world in three realms: internal, social, and external. In the internal world, the mind is divided in many different ways, which can be explained by the rider and elephant analogy. The rider represents the new rational, developed brain whereas the elephant represents the old, primitive brain. This partition of the human mind greatly influences the way people think and behave socially, which is marked by a higher opinion of oneself, reciprocal actions, and hypocritical behavior. Only by understanding these realms can one understand happiness. Though happiness is defined as an elevated state of mind, happiness is a combination of internal genetics, external conditions and voluntary social activities. Happiness can be drawn from a wide range of sources, including love, adversity, virtue, and inner divinity. Love creates lasting emotional connections between people. Adversity allows people to reach higher levels of personal development. Virtue sets a standard for character and adds a sense of authenticity to the individual. Inner divinity allows people to transcend certain barriers and reach a higher spiritual level. Creating a dynamic interplay between opposites of philosophies by looking between all mentioned relationships will allow one to find the path towards happiness. In his study, Haidt utilizes a development of ideas and ends with a conclusion which is his ultimate happiness hypothesis. He first starts by laying down a solid foundation of important concepts that the audience needs to know before he begins his main argument. Haidt does this by defining key terms and using descriptive language. This way, the audience is able to follow his reasoning in a step by step manner. Haidt further develops his study by drawing from a large pool of sources, which makes the book well rounded and personally connectable. Many of the conclusions that Haidt draws are logical and clear, which improve the flow of the piece. He uses scientific and quantitative evidence from case studies to help define and explain his reasons and background information necessary to help the audience understand his position. However, he also utilizes narrative reasoning in the forms of anecdotes and hypothetical situations to bring a personal perspective into his study. Close to the ending of his book, Haidt discusses many of his own ideas and lays out different levels of coherence in life so that the readers are able to ponder about where they stand personally.