Editing Happiness (section)

===Positive psychology===
Since 2000 the field of [[positive psychology]], which focuses on the study of happiness and human flourishing rather than maladjusted behavior or illness, expanded drastically in terms of scientific publications. It has produced many different views on causes of happiness, and on factors that correlate with happiness, such as positive social interactions with family and friends.<ref name=NYSciHap>{{cite magazine|last=Wallis |first=Claudia |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015902-1,00.html |title=Science of Happiness: New Research on Mood, Satisfaction |magazine=TIME |date=9 January 2005 |access-date=7 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115020515/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1015902-1%2C00.html |archive-date=15 November 2010 }}</ref>

These factors include six key virtues:

1. Wisdom and knowledge, which includes creativity, curiosity, love of learning and open-mindedness.

2. Courage, which includes bravery, persistence, integrity, and vitality.

3. Humanity, which includes love, kindness, and social intelligence.

4. Justice, which includes leadership, fairness, and loyalty.

5. Temperance, which includes self-regulation, prudence, forgiveness, humility, patience <ref>Perison, Abel Lawrence (1830). Address on Temperance, Delivered in the South Meeting House, Salem, 14 January 1830. Boston: Perkins & Marvin. p. 31</ref> and modesty.

6. Transcendence, which includes religious/spirituality, hope, gratitude, appreciation of beauty and excellence, and humor.

In order for a virtue to be considered a key strength in the field of positive psychology it must meet the demands of 12 criteria, namely ubiquity (cross-cultural), fulfilling, morally valued, does not diminish others, be a nonfelicitous opposite (have a clear antonym that is negative), traitlike, measurable, distinct, have paragons (distinctly show up in individuals' behaviors), have prodigies (show up in youth), be selectively absent (distinctly does not show up in some individuals), and is supported by some institutions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Watkins |first=Philip C. |title=Positive Psychology 101 |publisher=Springer Publishing Company |year=2016 |isbn=978-0-8261-2697-9 |location=New York, NY}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lopez |first1=Shane J. |title=The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology |last2=Snyder |first2=C. R. |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-19-518724-3 |edition=2nd |location=New York, NY |pages=27–28}}</ref>

Numerous short-term self-help interventions have been developed and demonstrated to improve happiness.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Bolier|first1=Linda|last2=Haverman|first2=Merel|last3=Westerhof|first3=Gerben J|last4=Riper|first4=Heleen|last5=Smit|first5=Filip|last6=Bohlmeijer|first6=Ernst|title=Positive psychology interventions: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies|journal=BMC Public Health|date=8 February 2013|volume=13|issue=1|page=119|doi=10.1186/1471-2458-13-119|pmid=23390882|pmc=3599475 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.psysci.co/40-scientifically-proven-ways-happier/ |title=40 Scientifically Proven Ways To Be Happier |access-date=12 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311190556/http://www.psysci.co/40-scientifically-proven-ways-happier/ |archive-date=11 March 2016 |url-status=live |date=19 February 2015 }}</ref>

[[Yale University|Yale]] researcher Emma Seppälä has emphasized the importance of compassion for others, balanced with self-compassion.  Compassion for others may involve service and volunteering, or simply reaching out to connect, show gratitude, or draw others together.<ref name="d813">{{cite web |last=Burns |first=Holly |date=2024-12-26 |title=Why Your New Year's Resolutions Should Involve Your Interpersonal Relationships |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/26/style/new-years-resolutions-relationships-loved-ones.html |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>