Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Glück / Español: Felicidad / Português: Felicidade / Français: Bonheur / Italiano: Felicità

Happiness in psychology is a state of emotional well-being that reflects positive feelings, contentment, and satisfaction with life. It involves both immediate, short-term emotions like joy, as well as long-term life satisfaction. Psychologists often explore happiness through concepts like subjective well-being and positive affect, which encompass how individuals evaluate their own emotional experiences and overall life satisfaction.

Description

In psychology, happiness is a central focus of positive psychology, a field dedicated to studying the factors that contribute to human flourishing and well-being. It goes beyond just fleeting moments of pleasure and looks at enduring states of contentment, fulfilment, and meaning in life. Psychologists generally measure happiness through self-reported assessments, where individuals reflect on their emotional states and life circumstances.

Happiness is often broken down into two key components:

• Hedonic well-being: This refers to the presence of positive emotions and the absence of negative emotions. It is the immediate, pleasure-based side of happiness, where individuals feel good in the moment, such as experiencing joy, excitement, or comfort.
• Eudaimonic well-being: This involves a deeper sense of purpose, meaning, and personal growth. Rather than focusing solely on pleasure, it concerns whether people feel they are living in accordance with their values, fulfilling their potential, and contributing to something larger than themselves.

One of the most widely accepted frameworks for studying happiness is subjective well-being (SWB), developed by psychologist Ed Diener. SWB consists of three components:

1. Life satisfaction: How satisfied individuals feel with their overall life.
2. Positive affect: The frequency of experiencing positive emotions.
3. Negative affect: The infrequency of experiencing negative emotions.

Research has shown that happiness is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and situational factors. Studies indicate that while a person's baseline level of happiness is partially determined by genetics, external circumstances (such as relationships, work, and health) and intentional activities (like practising gratitude or engaging in meaningful activities) also play a critical role in increasing happiness.

In addition to personal well-being, the study of happiness in psychology often extends to social, cultural, and even economic dimensions. For example, cross-cultural research has revealed that happiness levels vary across different societies, and factors such as social support, individualism versus collectivism, and economic stability contribute significantly to these variations.

The pursuit of happiness is not without its complications. Some psychologists warn of the paradox of happiness, where constantly striving to be happy can lead to dissatisfaction. Research by Iris Mauss and others has shown that individuals who place a high value on happiness may end up feeling more disappointed when they fail to achieve it, leading to lower overall well-being.

Special Considerations

Cultural differences play an important role in defining happiness. In Western societies, happiness is often associated with individual achievement and personal pleasure, while in Eastern cultures, happiness may be tied to harmony, community, and fulfilling social obligations. This cultural variation highlights that happiness is not a universal experience but rather shaped by societal values and norms.

Application Areas

• Clinical psychology: Enhancing happiness is often a goal in therapy, especially for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem.
• Positive psychology: A field dedicated to understanding the factors that contribute to happiness, well-being, and human flourishing.
• Workplace psychology: Psychologists explore how job satisfaction, work-life balance, and workplace environment influence employee happiness and productivity.
• Developmental psychology: Investigating how happiness evolves across the lifespan, from childhood to old age.
• Social psychology: Studying how relationships, social support, and community engagement contribute to individual happiness.

Well-Known Examples

• Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model: Seligman, a key figure in positive psychology, proposed the PERMA model as a framework for understanding happiness. It includes five components: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. According to this model, happiness is about more than just feeling good—it involves leading a life of purpose and connection.
• Harvard Study of Adult Development: This longitudinal study, which began in 1938, has provided significant insights into what makes people happy over the course of their lives. One key finding is that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy and healthy.
• Flow Theory by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: This theory describes the experience of being completely absorbed and engaged in an activity, which contributes to happiness. When people are in a "flow state," they often lose track of time and feel a sense of fulfilment and joy.

Risks and Challenges

One of the challenges in the psychology of happiness is the adaptation effect or the hedonic treadmill. This concept refers to the observation that people tend to return to a baseline level of happiness regardless of significant positive or negative life events. For instance, winning the lottery or experiencing a major loss might temporarily affect happiness, but over time, individuals typically revert to their baseline level. This makes sustaining long-term happiness more complex than it may seem.

Another risk is the commercialisation of happiness, where the pursuit of happiness is turned into a product, encouraging people to believe that buying certain goods or achieving specific goals will guarantee their happiness. This consumer-driven approach often leads to dissatisfaction, as material wealth and possessions do not necessarily result in lasting happiness.

Similar Terms

• Subjective well-being: A broad term that encompasses an individual's self-reported evaluation of their happiness and life satisfaction.
• Life satisfaction: How content people are with their overall life, often measured as a component of happiness.
• Positive affect: The frequency of experiencing positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, and love.
• Eudaimonia: A concept from ancient Greek philosophy, often contrasted with hedonic happiness, that emphasizes meaning, purpose, and the fulfilment of one’s potential.

Weblinks

• allerwelt-lexikon.de: 'Glück' in the allerwelt-lexikon.de (German)

Summary

In psychology, happiness is a multifaceted concept involving both immediate emotional experiences and long-term life satisfaction. It encompasses both hedonic pleasure and eudaimonic fulfilment, with subjective well-being being the most common framework for studying it. The pursuit of happiness is complex and influenced by genetics, life circumstances, and intentional activities, but it is also subject to risks like the hedonic treadmill and cultural pressures.

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