How do ideas of happiness differ among cultures, age groups, and social groups?

Happiness, a universal emotion has its own different connotations when perceived from different cultures, social and age groups but the difference appear to be subtle. In western cultures, such as American culture, the idea of happiness is seen in the same light as human right and is therefore, mostly associated with personal achievements and personal experiences. However, people from other cultures view this as a shallow definition of happiness. Among the Eastern cultures such as Japanese and Chinese perceives happiness in terms of social harmony which leads to states such as relaxation and calmness (Uchida & Shinobu, 411).The Eastern cultures understand the culture to mean more than achievements in terms of physical wealth.  Therefore in some cultures, happiness is defined in terms of positive states that are highly arousal such as enthusiasm, excitement and elation while others in terms of positive states that are lowly arousal such as relaxation.

 In terms of age, the idea of happiness changes with a person’s age so that different age groups perceive happiness differently. To the younger age groups, happiness is mostly associated with excitement and aspects that are likely to induce it such as leisure, friends and family (European Centre for Social Welfare policy and Research, 1). As people get into older age groups, such a perception is seen as not realistic and therefore, they relate the idea of happiness to contentment and aspects that are likely to induce it. This shows that there are two aspects that different age groups perception of happiness which includes excitement and peacefulness (Demir, 299). In different classes, the idea of happiness depends on a feeling of personal achievement or accomplishment so that happiness is attributed to success. However, being richer does not mean happiness nor is being poor but interaction within a social group determines happiness definition (Demir, 299).

Therefore, difference in ideas of happiness between cultures, social groups and age groups are quite subtle. Happiness is determined by various aspects such as prevailing situation, one’s health and relationships with others. Regardless of the group, happiness will be defined in terms of aspects that are important to those belong to the group.

References

European Centre for Social Welfare policy and Research. Happiness across the Life Cycle: Exploring Age-Specific Preferences.2008. Retrieved from: http://www.euro.centre.org/data/1207216181_14636.pdf

 

 

Demir, Melikşah. Friendship and Happiness: Across the Life-Span and Cultures. , 2015. Internet resource.299

Uchida, Yukiko, and Shinobu Kitayama. "Happiness and unhappiness in east and west: themes and variations." Emotion 9.4 (2009): 441.