A few days after registration（注册）opened at Yale for Psyc 157, that is, Psychology and the Good Lie, roughly 300 students had signed up. Within three days, the figure had more than doubled. After three more days, about 1200 students, or nearly one-fourth of Yale students, were registered, making it the most popular course in Yale's 316-year history.
The course, taught by Laurie Santos, a psychology professor, tries to teach students how to lead a happier, more satisfying life in twice-weekly lectures.
"In reality, a number of students are anxious, stressed and numb, adopting harmful life habits that led to mental health problems. They want to change, to be happier themselves, and to change the high-stress campus culture, "Dr. Santos said." With one in four students at Yale taking it, if we see good habits, things like students showing more gratitude, delaying less, increasing social connections, we're actually seeding change in the school's high-stress culture."
The course focuses both on positive psychology─the characteristics that allow humans to be healthy and happy─and behavioral change, or how to live by those lessons in real life. Students must take quizzes, complete a midterm exam and, as their final assessment, conduct what Dr. Santos calls Hack Yo'Self Project, a personal self-improvement project.
Dr. Santos is not monitoring whether students complete weekly assignments, like performing acts of kindness and forming new social connections. But while others might see easy credits, Dr. Santos refers to her course as the "hardest class at Yale". "To see real change in their life habits, students have to hold themselves responsible each day," she said.
Dr. Santos has encouraged all students to register in the course, arguing that the things Yale students often connect with life satisfaction such as a high grade or a good-paying job─do not increase happiness at all. "We have this moment where we can make a difference in Yale's culture, where students feel like they are part of a movement and fighting the good fight," she said.
