Discussion 1: What is Happiness?
How happiness and well-being are defined varies around the globe. For instance, in some cultures, happiness is closely linked to economic well-being and in other cultures, happiness is linked to being closer to home. As an additional example, in some societies, happiness is connected to individual advancement, whereas in other societies one’s personal happiness is linked to the well-being of the group.
For this Discussion, you will explore the influences of happiness and how they vary according to culture.
To Prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources and choose two influences on happiness or well-being that vary across cultures.
By Day 3
Post and explain the two influences on happiness you selected and explain why they vary according to culture.
Required Readings/REFERENCES
Colby, B. (2009). Is a measure of cultural well-being possible or desirable? In G. Mathews & C. Izquierdo (Eds.), Pursuits of happiness: Well-being in anthropological perspective (pp. 45–64). New York, NY: Berghahn Books.
Credit Line: Pursuits of Happiness: Well-being in Anthropological Perspective, by Mathews, G.; Izquierdo, C. Copyright 2009 by Berghahn Books. Reprinted by permission of Berghahn Books via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Suh, E. M., & Koo, J. (2009). Comparing subjective well-being across cultures and nations: The “what” and “why” questions. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds.), The science of subjective well-being (pp. 414–427). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Credit Line: The Science of Subjective Well-Being by Eid, M.; Larson, R. J. (Eds). Copyright 2009 by Guilford Publications. Reprinted by permission of Guilford Publications via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Veenhoven, R. (2010). How universal is happiness? In E. Diener, J. F. Helliwell, & D. Kahneman (Eds.), International differences in well-being (pp. 328–350). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Credit Line: International Differences in Well-Being, by Diener, J.; Helliwell, J. ; Kahneman, D. Copyright 2010 by Oxford University Press. Reprinted by permission of Oxford University Press via the Copyright Clearance Center.
Government.ae (2018). UAE Government: Happiness. Retrieved from https://government.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-of-future/happiness
