Pleasure

"The Edison Phonograph" (1905), a postcard that shows pleasure while listening to music.

Pleasureis anemotion.It is the opposite ofpain.Humansand many othermammalsfeel pleasure.People feel pleasure when they do something that is fun or that feels good.

Pleasure in neuroscience

Pleasure is studied inneuroscience.Neuroscientists have mapped pleasure "hotspots" in the brain.Pleasure is important for a person'smental healthand well-being.The loss of pleasure is common in people withmental illnesseslikedepression,schizophrenia,andaddiction.

Pleasure in psychology

Pleasure is studied in positivepsychology.How much pleasure someone feels changes from person to person. Pleasure depends how special something is. There is no rule that says what pleasure is for every person.

Sigmund Freudwrote about the "pleasure principle" in the 1920 essayBeyond the Pleasure Principle.According to Freud, the pleasure principle is what drives people to do things that give them a feeling of immediategratification.

Pleasure in philosophy

Theancient GreekphilosopherEpicurussaid that people feel the most pleasure possible when they have nosuffering.

Hedonismis anotherphilosophythat is focused on pleasure. It says that pleasure is good.In Hedonism, people focus on pleasure and avoidpain.

Utilitarianismis aphilosophythat focuses on pleasure. It says thatmoralityrequires that people do what has the mostutilityfor the most people.

Related pages

• Happiness