Week four - post two

Cooperation, or working together towards a common goal for mutual benefit, is connected to happiness. It is connected biologically because it looks for activation in systems that represent pleasure and reward. Evolutionarily, our brains have been attuned to liking cooperation and being met with cooperation from others. Cooperation goes hand in hand with conflict and peacemaking. Conflict  somehow is an everyday instance for nearly everyone. It comes up between family members and significant others the most, and is resolved through many tactics, the most effective being apology. Apology signifies to the victimized party that offends are remorseful, empathizes with victims, and shows planning for a remedy to the solution. Peacemaking is built into our basic signaling behavior in human emotion, so when someone sees apologetic features such as a red face or an averted gaze, they are more likely to forgive. People who apologize and make strides towards peace are psychologically healthier and generally happier then those who do not apologize. Forgiveness is just as important for reconciliation as apology is. Forgiveness is reducing or eliminating resentment and motivations toward revenge and the ability to make peace. It boasts many benefits. For example, letting go of grudges lead to lower stress levels and greater happiness. The final step of reconciliation is the establishment of trust. Trust, or the sense that other people will act on behalf of our interests, leads to more happiness. It is shown many ways, such as verbally, or physically, through touch. In addition, trustworthiness is the most desirable quality in a romantic partner. If one shows trust, their quality of life is likely to be higher.

Meaningfulness involves thinking about the past, present, future, and the connection between the three. This includes evaluating the past and deciding whether to move past it or not. If one is able, moving past grudges and negative experiences from the past will lead to a happier, more meaningful future. This is includes developing and applying qualities such as cooperation, trust, forgiveness, and reconciliation into daily life. Biologically, it is proven that with these ideas/qualities present, one will have a better life than if these were not present, shown by evidence stated above.