by Isabel Santis
Happiness is not just a “good feeling”. It carries along strong biological cues and values. It provides inner guidelines which allows us to plan and implement behaviors from which we can expect a beneficial outcome. Feeling of happiness, like joy, gratitude, and well-being, are based on previous experiences, memorized by the body, and linked to a positive expectation for the future. This conditioning for happiness is an efficient way of integrating or automating previous experiences into behavioral and sensation shortcuts that can be quickly implemented and activated. The capacity for happiness was passed on genetically and further developed in evolution. It has a biomolecular basis, and it has been refined to be used for autoregulation and the survival of the individual and of the species.
When we experience joy and other pleasures, the brain releases the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is what gives that warm feeling of happiness. It also improves our mood, our capacity for learning, and to remember things.
Neurologically we're designed to be connected to one another; we are designed to attach to one another; and our brains release the hormone oxytocin when we are with, or think of, those we love most. We “expand” our sense of "self" to include those who are our most beloved. Interestingly, this release of oxytocin also occurs during psychedelic experiences, which is theorized as the reason why so many journeys include feelings of love and connection beyond our sense of “self”.
Thinking about future events that we expect to bring us happiness, like going to a concert or seeing a dear friend, can put us in a good mood. Much of that is in anticipation of the expected joy. This joy is from anticipation of good things to come. When we anticipate joy, our brains release dopamine, and then we feel joy.
Feelings of happiness is “created” when we associate something that happened with a resulting beneficial outcome. This, in turn, releases a cascade of neurotransmitters that produce the sensations we come to associate with being happy. Once this association is made and repeated a few times, it can be activated any time we have a similar experience.
There are four primary hormones and neurotransmitters associated with happiness. They are:
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows us to feel motivated, learn, and experience pleasure. It what gives us the determination to accomplish goals, desires, and needs. When you accomplish a goal, we get that “I did it!” feeling, and a rush of dopamine gives us a surge of pleasure that reinforces the connection between feeling and action.
The effects of dopamine are short lived, and give us a feeling of instant gratification, which leaves you wanting more. For this reason, the overstimulation of dopamine can become addictive. It is directly related to bad habits or addictions like social media scrolling or movie binging, as well as gambling and alcoholism.
Oxytocin is a hormone that produces a feeling of trust, and gives us the motivation to build and sustain close relationships. This hormone gives us the capacity to form strong social bonds with people we “trust”, which creates a feeling of safety or comfort. It helps us adapt to different emotional and social situations, and It is known as the “love hormone” because it plays a role in bonding..
Oxytocin can also boost the immune system and fight stress, which can make you more resistant to the addictive qualities of dopamine. Unlike dopamine, oxytocin produces a long-lasting feeling of calm and safety.
Whenever we feel accepted, significant or important, we are rewarded by the rush of good feelings produced by serotonin. It is the pleasure you get when you experience social power, loyalty, or status.
Serotonin is released when we find opportunities to be truly seen and understood, and we are valued and respected. It produces a calm form of confidence and acceptance in the feelings of acceptance from the people around you. Serotonin motivates leaders to excel and grow, and it also motivates others to not let down their leader, parent, or other person in a position of authority.
Endorphins release a brief euphoria that diminishes your perceptions of pain. It is a response to pain and stress, which acts as a painkiller, but also helps alleviate anxiety and depression. Any kind of physical distress can trigger the release of endorphins. You can also get a release of endorphins when you exceed your limits, such as the experience “runners high”.