We distinguish between three forms of happiness, each of which is underpinned by a different pattern of neurobiological activity. «So-called ‹youthful happiness› stands for desire, curiosity and euphoria – feelings that are particularly prevalent in youth and drive us to set out for uncharted shores, learn new things and seek reward in success,» says Tobias Esch, a neuroscientist at the University of Witten/Herdecke (Germany).
Youthful happiness is linked to the brain's enormous capacity to learn, which creates new neural pathways as a result of these feelings: «When we feel on top of the world, the engine of growth is active up there.»
During the family phase, we experience happiness primarily as the absence of unhappiness.
Tobias Esch, neuroscientist
Relief and the joy of simply being
Whilst a thirst for adventure and enjoyment take centre stage in the springtime of life, during the rush hour it is mostly what is known as «relief-induced happiness». «The relief felt when stress subsides, conflicts are resolved or a disaster has been averted,» explains Esch.
«This form of happiness dominates the middle phase of life and the active family years, which are characterised by a multitude of simultaneous demands in both our professional and private lives. At this stage, we experience happiness primarily as the absence of unhappiness.» We go through this low point, «the valley of tears», as Esch puts it, between the ages of 40 and 50, after which things start to look up again.
Between the ages of 65 and 75, a feeling reaches its peak which neuroscience describes as «existential happiness»: it is characterised by a reduction in obligations, a growing sense of serenity born of life experience, a sense of having found one's place, and inner peace.
Statistically speaking, then, we are particularly happy during our youth and in early old age, whilst experiencing a low point in between – meaning that human happiness over the course of a lifetime follows a U-shaped curve. «A life may well take a different course,» Esch notes, «but for the average population as a whole, we find this typical U-shaped pattern in practically every country in the world.»
