Chapter 21

Pleasure and Happiness

 

Physiological and/or psychological Needs provide the impetus; Motivations direct our actions (Behavior). Feelings - particularly Pleasure (or pain) and Happiness (or unhappiness) provide feedback concerning our success or failure in achieving our goals. In this way, pleasure and happiness inform our motivation. But what is the difference between pleasure and happiness?

Pleasure is a basic biological phenomenon arising from our brain’s reward system. Dopamine is released into regions such as the nucleus accumbens, and we feel GOOD. When we eat a delicious meal, have a gratifying sexual experience, listen to our favorite music, or attain a desired goal, we experience pleasure.  Pleasure can be a social construct. Societies determine which pleasures are acceptable, excessive, or taboo. A glass of wine is encouraged in one culture, tolerated in another, and condemned in yet another. Hence, an experience can have both pleasant and painful consequences at once.

In liberal, affluent societies, opportunities for pleasurable experiences abound. For example, instant gratification from entertainment is available on our smartphones. Yet pleasure can be deceiving. The “hedonic treadmill” describes how people adapt quickly to pleasurable gains and return to baseline moods. Novelty may provide a dopamine rush, but it rarely leads to sustained contentment. Taken to an extreme, the pursuit of pleasure may lead to addiction (see Chapter 12).

Happiness is slower to build but lasts much longer than fleeting pleasures. It arises from a sense of accomplishment, having meaningful relationships, and aligning with personal values. Even those suffering from hardship and denied pleasures can find happiness when they have dignity, hope, and a sense of purpose.

Am I espousing the life of an extreme ascetic? Absolutely not. For most of us, life without fleeting pleasures would feel dull and tasteless. It is human nature to seek pleasure. Let’s return to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A “whole” life ticks all the boxes from our basic biological needs, through personal achievements and recognition, to the satisfaction of serving others. An optimal blend of pleasure and happiness is a good life. But this doesn’t come without agency, effort, and control.

 Our next stop along the Human Nature Process is a consideration of Emotions. We should note that pleasure itself is not an emotion; it is the feel-good component of emotions such as contentment and pride. Negative emotions like fear or shame usually involve the absence of pleasure or the presence of discomfort. Eating a fine Italian dinner is a pleasure. It is a reward signal that tells the brain, “Yum! More please!” Sharing that meal with a dear friend evokes feelings of Joy or Love. These are emotions. Emotions engage broader neural networks than Pleasure does. And happiness? Happiness is not a single, simple emotion. It is a complex emotional state or enduring mood made up of several positive emotions such as joy, contentment, gratitude, and love. So, what, distinctly, is emotion? Read on.

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