SMU Associate Professor of Psychology Christie Napa Scollon teaches a course on subjective well-being, which debunks myths about happiness and gives her students insights into their own lives. She said: "There is certainly no shortage of people with advice on how to be happier, but science can help people understand what works and what doesn't. Associate Prof Scollon added that there is no "signature physiological profile" but happy people experience more positive moods than negative moods, though this does not mean they are never sad. What is clear from research is that experiencing positive emotions yields short- and long-term health benefits. She said that negative emotions, such as anger and fear, increase a person's heart rate and blood pressure to aid survival – the classic "fight or flight" response.