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What is the evolutionary purpose of happiness?
By Oliver StaleyApril 18, 2017
Life for the first humans was undoubtedly brutal. They were in a constant struggle to stay warm and fed, while warding off predators and enduring an unforgiving climate. To survive, they needed to be tough, intelligent, and resourceful.
And happy.
Evolutionary psychologists theorize that happiness was an adaptive advantage. Happiness aided our survival in all sorts of important ways—it made us fitter, more attuned to our environment, more social, more energetic—and because happy people were more apt to survive, they were more likely to pass on their happiness genes. Like all evolutionary adaptations, happiness first occurred as a genetic variation, but persisted because it helped us stay alive.
Happiness describes a range of emotions, from pleasure to glee to contentment. But in the context of evolution, the happiness that proved most useful was the tingle of delight we feel when we’re met with unexpected good fortune.
That sensation is fueled by dopamine, a chemical in the brain associated with motivation and reward-seeking behavior. Scientists who study dopamine know it increases when we’re pleasantly surprised, but not when we’re merely satisfied. An unexpectedly good result, like surprising yourself on a test, will send dopamine level soaring. Biting into a chocolate bar won’t create the same glow, because it holds no surprise. Dopamine heightened our ancestors’ awareness and focused their attention on what they wanted; they craved the feelings it produced and it guided them toward comfort and love, conditions that help make us human.
“Dopamine isn’t interested in what’s expected; it’s interested in what’s surprising so it can help you learn about your environment,” says Robb Rutledge, a researcher at University College London. “Your happiness depends on whether things are getting better or worse, and knowing that can help you make better decisions in the future.”
Happiness and early humans
In early human societies, where communities were small and life could be perilous, happiness could make the difference between who survived and who didn’t.
The happier people would not only be more likely to attract a mate, but also to develop the skills that would help them survive. Workers in a good mood are more creative and energetic, studies show. Happy people are more attractive to others and develop stronger relationships, which would be essential for making friends and allies to help in adverse conditions.
As a result, happy survivors would be more likely to pass along the genes that produce happiness. Research confirms that much of happiness is hereditary: Studies of identical twins raised apart showed 50% of an individual’s happiness is due to genetic factors.
“There’s lots of research that shows that happiness has benefits,” said Sonya Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California-Riverside and the author of The Myths of Happiness. “It’s not just something that makes us feel good but helps us succeed in in life. People who are happy make more money, are more likely to get married, have stronger immune systems, and more friends.”
So it makes sense that as evolution favored happiness, we evolved to be happy. Studies show that, on the whole, humans are pretty happy as a species. Researchers compiled the results of nearly 1,000 surveys—which cumulatively polled 1.1 million people around the world—and found most people consider themselves to be more happier than not, ranking their happiness, on average, just above seven on a 10-point scale.
What is the evolutionary purpose of happiness?
By Oliver StaleyApril 18, 2017
Life for the first humans was undoubtedly brutal. They were in a constant struggle to stay warm and fed, while warding off predators and enduring an unforgiving climate. To survive, they needed to be tough, intelligent, and resourceful.
And happy.
Evolutionary psychologists theorize that happiness was an adaptive advantage. Happiness aided our survival in all sorts of important ways—it made us fitter, more attuned to our environment, more social, more energetic—and because happy people were more apt to survive, they were more likely to pass on their happiness genes. Like all evolutionary adaptations, happiness first occurred as a genetic variation, but persisted because it helped us stay alive.
Happiness describes a range of emotions, from pleasure to glee to contentment. But in the context of evolution, the happiness that proved most useful was the tingle of delight we feel when we’re met with unexpected good fortune.
That sensation is fueled by dopamine, a chemical in the brain associated with motivation and reward-seeking behavior. Scientists who study dopamine know it increases when we’re pleasantly surprised, but not when we’re merely satisfied. An unexpectedly good result, like surprising yourself on a test, will send dopamine level soaring. Biting into a chocolate bar won’t create the same glow, because it holds no surprise. Dopamine heightened our ancestors’ awareness and focused their attention on what they wanted; they craved the feelings it produced and it guided them toward comfort and love, conditions that help make us human.
“Dopamine isn’t interested in what’s expected; it’s interested in what’s surprising so it can help you learn about your environment,” says Robb Rutledge, a researcher at University College London. “Your happiness depends on whether things are getting better or worse, and knowing that can help you make better decisions in the future.”
Happiness and early humans
In early human societies, where communities were small and life could be perilous, happiness could make the difference between who survived and who didn’t.
The happier people would not only be more likely to attract a mate, but also to develop the skills that would help them survive. Workers in a good mood are more creative and energetic, studies show. Happy people are more attractive to others and develop stronger relationships, which would be essential for making friends and allies to help in adverse conditions.
As a result, happy survivors would be more likely to pass along the genes that produce happiness. Research confirms that much of happiness is hereditary: Studies of identical twins raised apart showed 50% of an individual’s happiness is due to genetic factors.
“There’s lots of research that shows that happiness has benefits,” said Sonya Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California-Riverside and the author of The Myths of Happiness. “It’s not just something that makes us feel good but helps us succeed in in life. People who are happy make more money, are more likely to get married, have stronger immune systems, and more friends.”
So it makes sense that as evolution favored happiness, we evolved to be happy. Studies show that, on the whole, humans are pretty happy as a species. Researchers compiled the results of nearly 1,000 surveys—which cumulatively polled 1.1 million people around the world—and found most people consider themselves to be more happier than not, ranking their happiness, on average, just above seven on a 10-point scale.
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