The Pedagogical Importance of Happiness

Twenty years have passed since Martin Seligman, 1998 President of the American Psychological Association, pitched Positive Psychology to the behavioral and social sciences. New research highlights the important benefits of happiness in the classroom. High-energy, positive emotions like joy inspire play and play produces durable physical and cognitive resources.  People who are put into a good mood select higher goals, perform better, and persist longer on a variety of tasks.  In my talk, I will share additional research and thoughts about why it is time we, as faculty, consider and use happiness as an important pedagogical tool.