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The Institute of Subjective Well-Being (ISWB) is a non-sectarian, non-political institute devoted to sharing both established and pioneering research in the field of subjective well-being, more commonly known as happiness. Subjective well-being is a suitable way to refer to happiness: subjective, because it is in the eyes’ of the beholder; well-being, because it is always in progress and not a place to reach and hold for good. It also reminds us the importance of keeping the scientific method in this field; the last decades saw substantial advancements in the research related to how brain functions, and how emotions and other activities are handled.
Membership is free and open to researchers, meditators, philosophers and the public at large. We publish pamphlets and white-papers, freely available on our site; we also edit a newsletter for media experts who want to receive updates about developments in the field of subjective well-being.
Considering scientific research has already proven happiness is a matter of many factors, including personal choices, environmental influences and genetics, we work to keep the discussion open. An analogical approach to happiness (where different factors influencing happiness are weighted according to the context) has proven more effective than a digital approach (where the discussion is focused on finding one exclusive, or leading, cause for all); even of course the yes/no approach seems always the most efficient, the additional knowledge we are gaining and the exponential growth in computing power when it comes to scenarios-building, will make possible to opt for a more effective approach, with efficiency taken care by progress. Discussing about different degrees of appropriateness, instead of zero-sum right or wrong positions, brings more positive results, at the advantage of all parties involved in the discussion.
Research has also shown that happiness is a two-way street: our brain influences what and how we see; at the same time, external elements – channeled through our senses – can physically change our brain, rewiring it (neuroplasticity) and generating new neurons (neurogenesis). This means the brain has a major role in subjective well-being, but should not seen as the only player in the field.
