The happiness formula is known (but what of the next degree?)

The idea that happiness is man's natural emotional state is almost certainly one of those attractive, easy to understand explanations for a more complex phenomenon. Though I'm sure this is true, I wonder to what degree happiness is actually suppressed throughout one's lifetime and especially during puberty. What would be even more interesting would be to determine exactly which social and cultural mores unneccessarily and cruely work to turn kids from the free expression/feeling of joy. What fascets of our culture, or which tactics of parenting, cause some children to bottle up their youthful energy and exhuberance? Being a developmental specialist, I'm sure my mom could attempt to answer these sorts of questions. Finally, I'd note that its entirely possible-and quite likely-that the natural hormonal changes of puberty have the largest impact on a child's transition from free expression to a relative obsession with social/sexual acceptance.

Working with the idea as a basis for the happiness formula, it seems as though our focus will fall on two areas. 1) The removal of negative barriers to happiness, and 2) the creation of controls which ultimately yeild greater happiness (morals?). #2 is deserving of greater thought, whereas entire fields of science are already dedicated to #1 (psychology, therapy, medicine, etc), however unrecognized or unpracticed such fields may be in the day to day lives of common people. #2 involves the construction of a system of morality based on science-a) what behavior produces the most positive affect on the individual; and b) the learning of wisdom-a depth of knowledge of one's body and mind which leads individuals to make the best choices for their wellbeing. And with these two components of happiness, the latter (b) is the least controversial, while being, yet again, a truth that is largely ignored by Americans.

In quick review, I assert that many, many people neglect their physical and mental well beings by ignoring common knowledge regarding how to live a healthy lifestyle, and by turning a blind eye to a large body of science which offers help for mental, emotional, physical, and relationship problems. This may be an extreme generalization, but I think it gets to the point that if people were serious about being happier, they'd find that most components of the "formula" are already known-they're just not implemented. The knowledge of all negativities (past psychological, physical, mental, etc) burdens on the body and mind, and the necessity of the negativities removal for happiness, deserves greater recognition.