Happy Cities: The Role of Transportation

Abstract

Psychology research increasingly suggests that emotional well-being contributes to human development in significant ways. Happier people often are more productive and creative, have better family and social relationships, and in general are more successful. For urban planners, it is important to understand people’s daily emotional experiences as they move through cities, according to research by Yingling Fan, Associate Professor in the Regional Planning and Policy Area at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Are we creating neighborhoods and cities with emotional intelligence, capable of evoking positive emotions and reducing negative emotions?