Question

Describe happiness - Positive emotions:

1. Definition of happiness
2. Theories of happiness
3. Determinants of happiness 

Answer 1

Happiness - Positive Emotions:

1. Definition of Happiness: Happiness is a favorable emotional state that everyone experiences. There are subjective disparities in happiness experiences, for example, some people are glad when they obtain sweets, while others simply despise sweets.
2. Theories of Happiness:
   1. Need/Goal Satisfaction Theories: We are pleased since we have met our objectives. For example, if you're hungry, someone may give you your favorite food.
   2. Process/Activity Theories: Happiness is generated by participating in specific activities. For example, a singer enjoys singing.
   3. Genetic/Personality Theories: Happiness is influenced by both genes and personality traits.
3. Determinants of Happiness: We may believe that our health, income, and status are the most essential elements influencing our happiness. However, research reveals that these elements contribute only a small part of total happiness experienced by people during their lives.
   On the contrary, some factors are greater predictors of long-term happiness.

Some of them are:

1. Strong and Intimate Social Relationships: Robust and intimate relationships within and outside the family assist an individual in developing a better support system to rely on during times of difficulty. It also generates more pleasant contacts, which contributes to overall pleasure.
2. Optimism: When a person feels optimistic about the future, he will feel more positive emotions, which will reduce negative feelings such as stress and anxiety.
3. Self-Esteem: Possessing positive self-evaluations is a sign of positive self-esteem. This boosts an individual's confidence and capacity to approach situations more constructively. This increases his chances of success, which raises his satisfaction level.
4. Achieving Challenging Goals: If the goals are far higher or too easy to reach, the individual will become frustrated or bored. However, if the goal is altered according to the individual's capacity, it becomes a difficult aim. Achieving such difficult goals leads to happiness.
5. Perceiving Meaning in Life: According to research, people who do not find purpose in their lives are more likely to suffer negative emotions such as boredom, despair, etc. As a result, it is each individual's obligation to find a unique meaning and purpose in his or her life in order to be happy.
6. Perspective of looking at the world as an opportunity rather than a Threat: Each person might view life's challenges as either a chance to develop his potentials or as a setback that causes damage in his life. This suggests that our viewpoint on the world is more important to our pleasure than the objective situations we face.