Sometimes it's too complicated to discuss/analyse happiness because there is a huge range of definitions - from a huge range of knowledge fields and traditions - that very rarely can get connected or even compared. I would like some indications of classic/seminal papers/research that deal with happiness as a concept and try to connect it to consumption levels and lifestyles, for instance.
Did you check the discussions on Bhutans gross national happiness? Maybe the research on quality of life or the discussions on general alternatives to development (and consumption), such as the "Good Life" (Buen Vivir, Vivir Bien) in Ecuador and Bolivia can contribute something, too.
Thank you, Philipp! I am following some discussions about Bhutan's GNP, but never heard about Buen Vivir, Vivir Bien.
Hi Leonardo, I just took a class on global consumption with Prof. Dara O'Rourke. The sources from that course I thought that could be relevant to your question are: Thaler, Richard, and Cass Sunstein, Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness, Yale University Press, 2008; and Jackson, Tim, Prosperity Without Growth, UK Sustainable Development Commission, 2009; I think the second directly discusses ideas of happiness along with prosperity.
Dear Juliet, thank you very much for your suggestions. Tim Jackson's book is being very highlighted these days. And, honestly, I have never heard of Thaler et al,'s book. I will try to find it. It looks pretty interesting.
I would recommend the seminal review by Deci & Ryan, where they discuss Hedonistic vs. Eudaemonic Well-being (link is attached). While these authors do not directly address consumption, it follows from their review that the seek of hedonistic "happyness" could be easily linked to the incredible increase of consumption (either material, emotional or percepeptual consumption) wordwide. On the other hand, the seek of eudaemonic well-being requires a different approach.
Good luck with your research and I hope it helps!
http://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141
Hi Leonardo,
Two suggestions. Harvard Business Review on The Science behind the Smile.
And the website on The science of happiness.
Success,
Everard
I once tried to summarize some research on happiness. ee hereby.
Thank you very much, Waldemar and Everard. Your suggestions are really excellent! Best regards.
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