The ways to achieve happiness

Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University named after N. A. Dobrolyubov, Department of Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages, Pedagogy and Psychology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

^* Corresponding author: galsors@mail.ru

Abstract

The paper examines the definitions of happiness in psychology, analyzes the components of happiness, describes various methods of achieving happiness: volunteering or working for a good cause, positive thinking, methods of expressive therapy such as music and art therapy. Particular attention is paid to the description of neuro acoustics (sound therapy) and special psychological methods like the Key method developed by H. Aliev, the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing method developed by F. Shapiro, and the wing wave method developed by C. Besser-Siegmund and H. Siegmund; psychological training and psychotherapeutic technologies such as the Be Set Free Fast technique. To prove our hypothesis that modern psychological methods affect the psychological correction of students’ personal anxiety and make a person happier, we conducted a study to look at the influence of modern psychological methods on the psychological correction of students’ anxiety. At the summative and control stages of the study, we used the adapted version of R. Phillips’ anxiety test (for students). At the formative stage of the study, we used the developed and tested program of psychological correction for personal anxiety. Group methods were used as key methods of psychological correction, including brain gymnastics by P. Dennison and G. Dennison, the Key method by H. Aliyev; individual lessons with certified psychologists using the eye movement desensitization, and reprocessing method by F. Shapiro, and wing wave method by C. Besser-Siegmund and H. Siegmund. The university psychologist taught students the Be Set Free Fast protocol, and students also listened to neuro acoustic programs at home. The results of the experimental study proved that the program, based on modern psychological methods, contributed not only to the psycho-correction of students’ personal anxiety but also to improving the mental health of students and their perception of a happier life. The program can be recommended for psychological correctional work with first-year university students during the period of adaptation to university studies and for work with all students who have an increased level of anxiety and stress.