Purchase Solution

Happiness and cultural inmplications

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Ideas and references are generated in this solution to discuss gender and ethnic differences surrounding happiness. It offers diverse definitions of happiness, the varied importance of happiness between different groups, and then determines what seems to make different people happy.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

900 words of notes and references briefly correlate how happiness and culture can be aligned as well as happiness and gender.

Solution Preview

Welcome to BrainMass! Please rate 5/5 for my sample ideas and references. My notes are not assignment ready, merely guides for you to launch your own research basis from or employ for some main ideas or themes.

In general, most definitions of happiness suggests how "Happiness and well-being are often defined as internal feelings or states of satisfaction" (Uchida & Oishi, 2016, p. 125). Yet research cautions how Western and Eastern cultural variations are typical since "This definition, along with others predominant in the U.S. and other English-speaking nations, focuses on an individual's long-term emotional state: a happy person is a person who has pleasant feelings most of the time, and feels satisfied with his/her life overall" (Uchida & Oishi, 2016, p. 125). Interestingly, experts also cited how negative social effects of emotion suppression were reportedly higher for those with European-American cultural values than for those with Asian cultural values (Uchida & Oishi, 2016, p. 128).

Culture definitely plays an eminent role in defining and measuring happiness as Uchida & Oishi (2016) determined after research from a free-association task, in which many Americans "spontaneously described happiness as a relatively enduring positive state to be pursued personally, whereas many Japanese spontaneouslydefined it as an interpersonal condition that is also fraught with potential negative consequences (Uchida & Kitayama, 2009). Specifically, over 98% of American descriptions of happiness, but only 67% of Japanese descriptions, were rated as positive" (p. 130).

In addition, various ethnic differences surrounding happiness are noted through evidence-based examinations. For example, a Brazilian study showed how degrees of happiness were linked among levels "of social support, activities performed, and health and economic situation among retirees from urban and rural areas" (Amorim, França, & Valentini, 2017, p. 1). Data proved that "the most important predictors of happiness were health ( β = 0.42), social ...

Solution provided by:
Stacy Shaneyfelt, MA
Education
  • BS , Slippery Rock University
  • MA, Slippery Rock University
Recent Feedback
  • "thk u"
  • "Thank you. Posted one more.. if you are online pls help. "
  • "thk u"
  • "thk u"
  • "thnk you"
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Childhood Disorders (Axis 1)

This quiz is designed to test one's knowledge on childhood Principle Disorders found in the DSM-IV (1994). This is a good quiz for those who wish to pursue a career in child assessment or child development. Good luck.

Positive Psychology

A quiz related to the introductory concepts of positive psychology.

Sigmund Freud

How much do you know about Sigmund Freud's theories? Find out with this quiz!

Brain and behaviour

Reviews areas of the brain involved in specific behaviours. This information is important for introductory psychology courses.

V Axis Diagnostic Tool

It's important for all therapists to know what the V Axis Diagnostic tool is and how to use it. This quiz should be taken by learners who are not familiar with the V Axis Diagnostic Tool or who need to refresh their knowledge.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Cognition and Emotion/Ceremonies

    448663 Cognition and Emotion/Ceremonies A comparison (similarities and differences) of how two different emotions; such-as happiness, sadness, and etc.are expressed in the two cultures.

  • The Four Perspectives

    522304 The Four Perspectives There are four different theoretical perspectives on communication (Psychological Perspective, Social Constructionist Perspective, Pragmatic Perspective and Cultural Studies Perspective).

  • Happiness in different cultures

    563338 Happiness in Different Cultures What do you see as "the American dream," and how is it associated to happiness and freedom? What are some places in the world where the definition of happiness and/or freedom might be different?

  • Communication, Individual Emotions, and Culture in Groups

    On the social influence of emotions in groups: interpersonal effects of anger and happiness on conformity versus deviance.

  • The Four Styles Of Creative Intelligence

    For example, the existential level represents the individual's level of identity as a psychophysical organism existing in space and time; this level is influenced by the familial and cultural context of experience and is the source of rational thought

  • The Pursuit of Happiness

    Bhutan's goals for G.N.H. include: a balance of prosperity across society, preserving cultural traditions, protecting the environment, and maintaining a responsive government.

  • Selection criteria for expatriate managers for hotels

    Cultural Flexibility -Innate cultural sensitivity -Honesty WHY? Dealing with new customs and new cultures requires emotional intelligence and the ability to be sensitive.

  • PTSD and Hmong Culture

    Consider cultural beliefs and how it links to health and mental illness- PTSD -often, cultural/spiritual beliefs may lead this population to choose to seek out medical help as last resort.

  • Colors in America

    342626 Colors in America Could you please help me out with the following topic about cultural perceptions of color. Discuss American cultural perceptions of color.

View More Related Solutions