What Can We Learn From the Joy of Rats?
We can learn something about anticipation and joy from rats who learned how to drive little cars in the lab.
Our Favorite Books of 2024
Greater Good’s editors pick the most thought-provoking, practical, and inspirational science books of the year.
Do We Need to Love Ourselves Before We Love Others?
New research is beginning to investigate the links between self-compassion and compassion toward others.
How the Sea Is Good for Your Mind and Body
Research on "blue health" finds that being near natural bodies of water has benefits for our physical and mental health.
Can Forgiveness Help You Be More Resilient as a Parent?
A new study finds benefits to forgiveness for mothers of children with disabilities.
Five Ways to Be More Vulnerable and Authentic
It can feel risky to share our true selves with others, but it can also bring us more connection, success, and happiness in life.
Are You the A*Hole?
Worried that you might be wrong in that argument you're having? Intellectual humility can help.
Three Ways to Encourage Intellectual Humility in Kids
Parents can model and help children practice admitting what they don't know and owning mistakes.
What Inspires Eboo Patel to Bridge Differences
Eboo Patel shares the path that led him to create interfaith initiatives that bridge religious differences to create a better world.
Three Tips to Be More Intellectually Humble
Researcher Eranda Jayawickreme offers some ideas that can help you be more open and less defensive in conversations.
Three Tips to Be a Better Conversationalist
Bridge-builder Mónica Guzmán shares three ways to make hard conversations a little easier.
A Teacher Reflects on Teaching Gratitude
Educator Stephen Leeper shares what he learned from gratitude journaling with his students.
Mindfulness and Well-Being at Work
These are all of the presenters' slides from the four sessions included in "Mindfulness and Well-Being at Work."
The Internal and Interpersonal Nature of the Self-Organizing Mind
Dan Siegel's Slides at Mindfulness, Connection, and Compassion
The Art and Science of Mindfulness
Shauna Shapiro's slides from Mindfulness, Connection, and Compassion
The Science of a Meaningful Life for Education
Workshop for educators about how the science of a meaningful life (including awe, hope, mindfulness, empathy, compassion, self-‐compassion, and gratitude) can be applied to enhance the well-being of teachers and students.
Greater Good Gratitude Summit: Afternoon Sessions
These slides are from the afternoon sessions of the Greater Good Gratitude Summit.
Greater Good Gratitude Summit: Morning Sessions
These slides are from the morning sessions of the Greater Good Gratitude Summit.
Hardwiring Happiness
Rick Hanson's presentation on the new brain science of lasting inner strength and peace.
Cultivating a Meaningful Life
Workshop on the science and practices of a meaningful life (including awe, hope, mindfulness, and gratitude) for homeschooling parents to apply with themselves and their children.
The Science of a Meaningful Life
Keynote address on social-emotional learning and the science of a meaningful life (including empathy & compassion, altruism, forgiveness, and play) for homeschooling parents.
Helping Your Child Build a Happy and Meaningful Life—and Handle the Ups and Downs Along the Way
Workshop on the science of a meaningful life - including hope, self-compassion, mindfulness, and gratitude - for parents and their children.
The Science of a Meaningful Life for Students
Workshop on the science of a meaningful life - including awe, hope, self-compassion, mindfulness, and gratitude - for teachers and students.
Hope, Mindfulness, and Gratitude in Education
Workshop on the practices of hope, mindfulness, and gratitude for students.
Building a Positive School Culture
Tips and tools for school administrators on how to build a positive school culture.
Teacher CARE
Tips and tools for teachers and administrators on how to take care of themselves and avoid burnout.
Practicing Mindfulness & Compassion
The complete slides from the GGSC's inaugural conference.
Positive Thinking for Cranks and Pessimists: At Work
In a talk for the University of California, Berkeley, Tang Center, Jeremy Adam Smith explains how to manage on-the-job stress in a time of budget cuts and staff re-organizations.
Self-Compassion and Gratitude in Education
Workshop on the practices of self-compassion and gratitude for teachers and their students.
Flow and the Quality of Life
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's presentation on the importance of "flow" to creativity, happiness, and meaning in life.
The Science of Happiness
Dacher Keltner's presentation on how and why to cultivate happiness.
Self-Compassion and Emotional Resilience
Kristin Neff's presentation on the science, practice, and benefits of self-compassion.
Living Life Fully: Lessons from Lee Lipsenthal
Christine Carter's presentation on savoring life and living it fully, inspired by lessons she learned from Dr. Lee Lipsenthal.
Taking in the Good
Rick Hanson's presentation on how to turn fleeting positive emotions into lasting positive experiences, drawing on cutting-edge research from psychology and neuroscience.
The Science of a Great Relationship
Christine Carter and Frederic Luskins's seminar on the keys to a lasting and satisfying relationship.
The Biology of Stress and Happiness
Robert Sapolsky's presentation on the neuro-biology of human stress and happiness, delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Building Compassion, Reducing Stress."
Building Compassion, Reducing Stress
Dacher Keltner's presentation on the science and practice of compassion, empathy, and altruism, delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Building Compassion, Reducing Stress."
Seeds of Compassion, Roots of Empathy
Mary Gordon's slides from her presentation about her trailblazing program, Roots of Empathy.
Seeds of Compassion, Roots of Empathy
Dacher Keltner's presentation on the science and practice of compassion, empathy, and altruism.
Thriving Families: Insights from the Science of A Meaningful Life
Presentation on the keys to happy kids and compassionate families.
Building Compassion, Trust, and Happiness
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Building Compassion, Trust, and Happiness"
Building Gratitude
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Building Gratitude"
Taking in the Good: Weaving Positive Experiences into Your Brain and Your Self
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Building Gratitude."
Goodness, Evil, and Everyday Heroism
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Goodness, Evil, and Everyday Heroism."
“The Science of a Meaningful Life: Gratitude”
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Gratitude and Forgiveness."
“Why to Be Good, How to Be Happy”
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Why to Be Good, How to Be Happy."
“Compassion, Mindfulness, and Well-Being”
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life: Compassion, Mindfulness, and Well-Being."
“Beyond Happiness: Jen Science & the Good Life”
Part of Cal Discover Lecture Series.
“Seven Principles of Good Power: Machiavellian Myths and Power for the New World”
Keynote delivered at the California Psychology Association's annual conference.
“Myths of Power”
APA Conference
“Building Compassion, Creating Well-Being”
Presentation delivered at the Greater Good Science Center's seminar, "The Science of a Meaningful Life:Building Compassion, Creating Well-Being."