Children experience more extreme emotions in general, not just happiness. Think of the tantrums they throw.

And honestly, no, my main goal isn’t to blindly chase dopamine.

For one, happiness is more complex than that, you cannot just reduce it to one hormone (e.g. what about serotonin or oxytocin?)

Secondly, I think experience and personal development are important, they put happiness into perspective and let you appreciate it better. Leaving your comfort zone can be deeply rewarding, even if it doesn’t immediately result in a dopamine boost.

I can confidently say that I am happier now than I was as a child, despite the fact I now laugh less.

It’s not like international law really meant anything before Trump. It has been broken many times before with no real consequences, also by the US. The UN really doesn’t have the power to enforce anything.