What Do We Know About Happiness (original) (raw)

Advances in understanding happiness

1997

Summary One of the goals of social policy is to create greater happiness for a greater number. Realization of this ambition requires understanding of happiness. The following questions must be answered: 1) What is happiness precisely? 2) Can happiness be measured? 3) How happy are people presently? 4) What causes us to be happy or unhappy? 5) Can happiness be raised lastingly? Through the ages philosophers have toiled with these questions. Since the 1960's they are subject of empirical research.

Happiness vis-a-vis Development: Retrospection, Reflections and Ramifications

With the coming of newer social science perspective on positive psychology, the science of happiness has again come to the forefront and has become a centre of developmental research. But, the viewpoints of some specific groups of social scientists, especially psychologists, sociologists and economists are not entirely converging and are somewhat divided when they correlate the terms happiness and development. This paper highlights the main points of convergence and divergence between the different groups of researchers by taking into consideration the various secondary sources and scientific documents. Apart from that, some bone of contentions and confrontations have been criticized from an entirely holistic perspective and further suggestions are provided that can help bridge the differences in opinions of social scientists and policy makers for an efficient and effective policy implementation.

Happiness as A New Paradigm for Development and Public Policies: A Summary of the Synthesis

If happiness is the ultimate goal of human beings, the development paradigm needs to be rethought. Development should not only be about economic prosperity-a material means of happiness, but should be conceptualized towards the goal of happiness that involves other aspects than economic such as physical, mental, social and spiritual. Public policy schemes, therefore, need to be redesigned to increase individual and societal happiness.

Happiness as a New Paradigm for Development and Public Policies

2007

If happiness is the ultimate goal of human beings, the development paradigm needs to be rethought. Development should not only be about economic prosperity-a material means of happiness, but should be conceptualized towards the goal of happiness that involves other aspects than economic such as physical, mental, social and spiritual. Public policy schemes, therefore, need to be redesigned to increase individual and societal happiness.

Findings on Happiness & Happiness: Views on Happiness

2009

H3 HAPPINESS: VIEWS ON HAPPINESS 0 H3. 1 Happiness-attitude career 0 H3. 1.1 Earlier happiness-attitudes 0 H3. 1.2 Change in happiness-attitudes 0 H3. 1.4 Later happiness-attitudes 0 H3. 2 Current happiness-attitudes 1 H3. 2.1 Concept of happiness 2 H3. 2.2 Perceived sources of happiness 0 H3. 2.2. 1. perceived sources of one's own happiness 13 H3. 2.2. 2. perceived sources of every-bodies happiness 2 H3. 2.3 Perceived happiness of others 1 H3. 2.3. 1. perceived level of happiness of compatriots 3

Happiness: Also Known as “Life Satisfaction” and “Subjective Well-Being”

Handbook of Social Indicators and Quality of Life Research, 2011

Happiness is the main goal; most individuals reach out for a happy life and many policy makers aim at greater happiness for a greater number. This pursuit of happiness calls for understanding of conditions for happiness and for that reason the subject has received much attention in the history of western thought. The study of happiness has long been a playground for philosophical speculation. Due to the lack of empirical measures of happiness, it was not possible to check propositions about the matter. Hence, ...