Sep 20, 2024 09:57 PM
https://www.irishtimes.com/science/2024/...-cultures/
EXCERPTS: So should we all strive to be happy? Surprisingly, there is some evidence, cited by Young, that we should not. Some researchers have found striving to achieve happiness leads to thinking that time is scarce, which produces unhappiness – the active pursuit of happiness can frustrate achievement of wellbeing.
And what is the best way to achieve happiness? Some people think buying things will make them happy, others that having and savouring interesting experiences will induce happiness. Research shows that more happiness is derived from experiences them from possessions.
What about religion and happiness? In WEIRD countries practising Christians generally report higher levels of happiness than irreligious people. This is commonly explained by assuming that religion gives people a stronger sense of meaning in their lives.
On the other hand in Buddhist countries are cautious about the pursuit of happiness. They worry that pursuing personal happiness leads to neglecting other people thereby harming them. Japan is heavily influenced by Buddhism and the Japanese are considerably less interested in happiness than western people. In some non-western countries there can also be a degree of fear of happiness – a feeling that “joy is usually followed by sadness”. And Islam is suspicious of happiness, counselling caution in pursuing this goal.
[...] WEIRD people particularly focus on happiness. This may be related to the fact that WEIRD cultures mostly exist in comfortable environmental habitats, relatively unaffected by diseases or extreme weather, and so inhabitants can afford to allocate their resources not only to ensure everyday survival but also to pursue happiness.
The fact that happiness is not especially prized in certain countries doesn’t mean happiness has no beneficial effects in cultures that value happiness. In WEIRD cultures there is evidence that happiness is associated with better physical health and psychological wellbeing. This doesn’t seem to apply in other cultures – happiness is not associated with health for Japanese people... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: So should we all strive to be happy? Surprisingly, there is some evidence, cited by Young, that we should not. Some researchers have found striving to achieve happiness leads to thinking that time is scarce, which produces unhappiness – the active pursuit of happiness can frustrate achievement of wellbeing.
And what is the best way to achieve happiness? Some people think buying things will make them happy, others that having and savouring interesting experiences will induce happiness. Research shows that more happiness is derived from experiences them from possessions.
What about religion and happiness? In WEIRD countries practising Christians generally report higher levels of happiness than irreligious people. This is commonly explained by assuming that religion gives people a stronger sense of meaning in their lives.
On the other hand in Buddhist countries are cautious about the pursuit of happiness. They worry that pursuing personal happiness leads to neglecting other people thereby harming them. Japan is heavily influenced by Buddhism and the Japanese are considerably less interested in happiness than western people. In some non-western countries there can also be a degree of fear of happiness – a feeling that “joy is usually followed by sadness”. And Islam is suspicious of happiness, counselling caution in pursuing this goal.
[...] WEIRD people particularly focus on happiness. This may be related to the fact that WEIRD cultures mostly exist in comfortable environmental habitats, relatively unaffected by diseases or extreme weather, and so inhabitants can afford to allocate their resources not only to ensure everyday survival but also to pursue happiness.
The fact that happiness is not especially prized in certain countries doesn’t mean happiness has no beneficial effects in cultures that value happiness. In WEIRD cultures there is evidence that happiness is associated with better physical health and psychological wellbeing. This doesn’t seem to apply in other cultures – happiness is not associated with health for Japanese people... (MORE - missing details)
