Forsch! Podcast: “Happiness is Subjective Well-being”

In the sixth episode of “Forsch!”, Dr. des. Jeremias Othman and happiness researcher Tobias Rahm from the Institute for Educational Psychology at the Technical University of Braunschweig are in conversation. They address the questions: “What is happiness?”, “How is it measured?”, and “What can we do as individuals and as a society to live happier lives?”

Positive Psychology

“There’s more to achieve!” Tobias Rahm came to this realization after examining the satisfaction of students and teachers in the school sector. To address this issue, he utilizes what is known as Positive Psychology. Unlike “classical” psychology, this field, which emerged around the turn of the millennium, does not focus on mental disorders and deficits but rather on the exploration of the “life worth living.”

What is Happiness?

The basis of Tobias Rahm’s research is Ed Diener’s definition of “happiness” from the 1980s: “Happiness is subjective well-being.” Individuals with high subjective well-being frequently experience positive emotions, rarely negative emotions, and possess a high general life satisfaction. This understanding closely aligns with the everyday use of the term “happiness.” From this, a fundamental strategy for “being happier” can already be derived: Tobias Rahm advocates, first and foremost, for moderate (physical) activity and for integrating more positive emotions into one’s life, while dealing with negative ones more constructively. These goals can then be practically achieved with specific exercises, such as the “Praise Shower” or “Three Good Things.”

Happiness at School for Teachers

Rahm’s specific area of application for Positive Psychology is schools. According to his experience, schools provide the foundation for a generally happier society. Being happy has scientifically proven benefits: happier people live longer, are more productive, and are less frequently ill. Therefore, the first point of intervention for a happier school environment is the teachers. Following the motto, “How can a depressed pastor proclaim the joyful message?”, teachers can only pass on appropriate methods to their students if they themselves are less stressed. To this end, Tobias Rahm conducts training days with teachers, during which they receive extensive background information on the topic and learn methods for achieving happiness. Looking beyond one’s own horizon – to other countries – shows that it works.

HAppiness at School for Children

For application with children, Tobias Rahm pursues another strategy: He integrates topics of happiness research into teacher training programs, so that teachers can later design their own training sessions and lessons with their students. The aim is to establish “Happiness Clubs” in several primary schools in Braunschweig. Experiences and studies from other countries show that the introduction of a school subject on “happiness” can positively impact students and their performance. Rahm could envision something similar for Germany in the long term.

Listener Questions

At the end of the podcast, Tobias Rahm answers questions from the audience. These questions revolve around early childhood education and happiness, as well as New Year’s resolutions, among other topics.

The podcast “Forsch! – Science in Interview” is a cooperation between ForschungRegion Braunschweig and Braunschweiger Zeitung. The hosts Jeremias Othman (ForschungRegion Braunschweig) and Andreas Eberhard (Braunschweiger Zeitung) speak with regional stakeholders about their research, their personalities – and about current social, political, and ethical questions and debates.

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