This Emotional Life

What is happiness? How is it achieved? This three-part, six-hour PBS series hosted by Harvard social psychologist Daniel Gilbert investigates these questions, combining real-life profiles along with relevant research, reaching the conclusion that the key factor lies in relationships. The first episode deals with ties between family members, friends, and business partners—investigating, for instance, how professional associates can successfully address issues of collaboration and how estranged couples can work through problems via counseling and behavioral adjustment. The second episode focuses on techniques for overcoming obstacles to well-being, such as phobias, anxieties, and anger, illustrated by a sequence concerning a young woman who is afraid of flying, and another on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress. The third episode offers a wider examination of the importance of social connections, offering suggestions on how to strengthen them. This Emotional Life is a highly polished production that seamlessly links Gilbert's narration with the footage of individual subjects. While the comments by celebrities (Chevy Chase, America Ferrera, John Leguizamo, Katie Couric, Larry David, and others) seem like little more than an attempt to lend the series some glamour, some of the observations presented here—such as the notion that people apparently become happier as they grow older—are startling but somehow comforting. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)