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Emotion

Happiness - stuck with what you've got?

David Lykken and Mike Csikszentmihalyi debate the impact of genetic factors on happiness.

18 September 2001

David Lykken - Your average level of subjective well-being or happiness is largely determined by your genes. So if happiness is strongly genetic, that suggests that it must run in families – but it does not. If happiness is strongly genetic, that suggests that trying to be happier is like trying to be taller – but that also is mistaken. How can this apparent paradox be explained?

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