![](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0015/73140/varieties/160w.jpg)
Professor Brock Bastian
Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne
See research profile![What we know about our resilience after 2021 thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0018/80163/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
What we know about our resilience after 2021
In Australia, 2021 was characterised by family, social and financial dislocation. But strengths built during adversity will help us cope individually and collectively in an uncertain 2022
![The other side of happiness thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0015/106800/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
Podcast
The other side of happiness
Social psychologist Brock Bastian explains how life’s painful and difficult experiences play a very important role in producing happiness
![The ugly truth thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0025/86911/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
The ugly truth
The old adage says that looks don’t matter, but new research has found more evidence that they do – and understanding our response can help counteract it
![How COVID-19 could inspire us to a better future thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0034/88297/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
How COVID-19 could inspire us to a better future
COVID-19 created new ways of working together overnight, but as restrictions are eased, what we do now and what comes next matters
![Nanette, self-deprecation and when not to use it thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0028/96913/varieties/375w.jpg)
Arts & Culture
Nanette, self-deprecation and when not to use it
Hannah Gadsby has shone a light on the dark side of Australians’ fondness for self-deprecation
![Why feeling pain is key to our happiness thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0013/107311/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
Podcast
Why feeling pain is key to our happiness
Psychologist Brock Bastian on the curious benefit of unpleasantness to our pursuit of pleasure
![(Don’t) always look on the bright side of life thumbnail image](https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/image/0024/101859/varieties/375w.jpg)
Health & Medicine
(Don’t) always look on the bright side of life
The pursuit of happiness at the expense of other emotions may, paradoxically, be making us sad