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Happiness

Happiness is a complex emotion that includes a range of positive feelings and is linked to well-being and life satisfaction. It can arise from positive experiences or spontaneously, and its definition varies across cultures and contexts. The pursuit of happiness has been a significant topic in philosophy and psychology, emphasizing both immediate emotional experiences and overall life appraisal.

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16 views2 pages

Happiness

Happiness is a complex emotion that includes a range of positive feelings and is linked to well-being and life satisfaction. It can arise from positive experiences or spontaneously, and its definition varies across cultures and contexts. The pursuit of happiness has been a significant topic in philosophy and psychology, emphasizing both immediate emotional experiences and overall life appraisal.

Uploaded by

Leney
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Happiness

A 95-year-old man from Pichilemu, Chile;


his smile and facial expression may indicate happiness

Happiness is a complex and multifaceted emotion that encompasses a range of positive


feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life
experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, or engaging in
enjoyable activities. However, happiness can also arise spontaneously, without any apparent
external cause.

Happiness is closely linked to well-being and overall life satisfaction. Studies have shown that
individuals who experience higher levels of happiness tend to have better physical and
mental health, stronger social relationships, and greater resilience in the face of adversity.

The pursuit of happiness has been a central theme in philosophy and psychology for
centuries. While there is no single, universally accepted definition of happiness, it is
generally understood to be a state of mind characterized by positive emotions, a sense of
purpose, and a feeling of fulfillment.

Definitions

"Happiness" is subject to debate on usage and meaning,[1][2][3][4][5] and on possible differences


in understanding by culture.[6][7]

The word is mostly used in relation to two factors:[8]

 the current experience of the feeling of an emotion (affect) such as pleasure or joy,
[9]
or of a more general sense of 'emotional condition as a whole'.[a] For
instance Daniel Kahneman has defined happiness as "what I experience here and
now".[16] This usage is prevalent in dictionary definitions of happiness.[17][18][19]

 appraisal of life satisfaction, such as of quality of life.[20] For instance Ruut


Veenhoven has defined happiness as "overall appreciation of one's life as-a-
whole."[7]: 2 "'Happiness' is often used, in ordinary life, to refer to a short-lived state of
a person, frequently a feeling of contentment: 'You look happy today'; 'I'm very
happy for you'. Philosophically, its scope is more often wider, encompassing a whole
life. And in philosophy it is possible to speak of the happiness of a person's life, or of
their happy life, even if that person was in fact usually pretty miserable. The point is
that some good things in their life made it a happy one, even though they lacked
contentment. But this usage is uncommon, and may cause confusion.'[1] Kahneman
has said that this is more important to people than current experience.[16][21][22]

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