The human capacity for positive and negative feelings is shaped by the forces of evolution, thus the evolutionary perspective is relevant to the study of happiness. I shall try to identify the more pertinent innate qualities of the human brain, and discuss how the evolutionary perspective can be used to relate these qualities to questions concerning happiness.
Two aspects of our evolutionary legacy are particularly relevant: One, the existence of feelings designed to influence behaviour. These feelings typically tend to be of either positive or negative value, as their functions are either to encourage or discourage. Two, discords between the present way of living and the environment we are adapted to live in. Such discords may impact on emotional wellbeing (e.g. by causing anxiety), and on our “default state of contentment”.
The brain is designed to be modulated by the environment. Consequently, as a rule of thumb, functions that are used often will expand and become more dominant. By practising it should therefore be possible to improve the brains capacity for happiness. In addition to presenting the biological foundations for happiness, I shall discuss relevant practise.
