Colleges and universities across the country are exploring the research behind happiness: how to achieve it and how striving for it too much can backfire. This was the inaugural year of CU Boulder's class, "Science of Happiness,", taught by June Gruber, an associate professor of psychology. The homework consisted of exercises, including a gratitude journal where students were asked to write down three things they were grateful for each day and an assignment to make a positive connection with a stranger.
Gruber said her desire to teach the class stemmed in part from the isolation and resulting mental health problems -- especially for young people -- that grew out of the pandemic.
