Why More Stuff Doesn’t Make You Happier

Buying something new can trigger a rush of dopamine, leading to a momentary boost in happiness. But the rush is fleeting, and over time, our possessions can end up weighing us down more than they lift us up.

As part of our series on spring cleaning your wellbeing, Dr. Laurie explores why material things so often fail to make us happier, and why experiences are usually a better investment in our long-term wellbeing. Along the way, she talks with psychologist Bruce Hood, researcher Amit Kumar, and writer Cait Flanders, who reflects on the psychological benefits of shifting from a maximalist lifestyle to a minimalist one.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s actually worth the time and effort to clean out your closet, this episode offers some answers.

Experts Mentioned:

• Bruce Hood, professor of developmental psychology in society at the University of Bristol
• Amit Kumar, assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin
• Cait Flanders, author of The Year of Less and Adventures in Opting Out
• Richard Easterlin, economist and professor at the University of Southern California, originator of the Easterlin Paradox

Resources Mentioned:

• Possessed: Why We Want More Than We Need, by Bruce Hood (2019)
• The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store, by Cait Flanders (2018)
• “Does Economic Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some Empirical Evidence” by Richard A. Easterlin (Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 1974)

Related Episodes:

• "The Unhappy Millionaire"
• "Why Giving Money to Others Makes Us Happier"
• "You Can't Always Want What You Like"

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