Deconstructing Lay Definitions of Happiness: Sources, Emotions, Rationale, Essence

Tihana Brkljačić,Zvjezdana Prizmić Larsen,Ivan Balabanić,Ljiljana Kaliterna Lipovčan,Ines Sučić

doi:10.5817/soc2021-14034

Abstract

The aims of this study are to investigate definitions and explanations of the concept of happiness, and to introduce a model to classify lay definitions of happiness. This study is part of a longitudinal Croatian study on well-being (the CRO-WELL project). Answers to the open-ended question “What is happiness for you?” from a sample of adult Internet users (Nfemale= 1,036 and Nmale= 839; Mage=38) were analyzed. The definitions were classified regarding four perspectives based upon which question the respondents were assumed to have actually been answering, summarized as the RISE model: Rationale for Happiness – answering the question “How does happiness work?”; Impressions of Happiness – answering the question “How does it feel to be happy?”; Sources of Happiness – answering the question “What makes you happy?”; and the Essence of Happiness – answering the question “What is happiness?”

Highlights

The aim of this research was to explore the lay conceptualization of happiness by collecting free definitions to the open-ended question “What is happiness for you?” In order to provide a potentially useful classification system of general themes that appear in happiness definitions, and to clarify the relationships among various definitions of happiness, we produced an initial categorization into four perspectives (Rationale, Impressions, Sources, Essence – RISE)
About 5% of definitions comprised what we identified as implicit meaning or presumptions (e.g. “a crust of bread is all that is needed for happiness”, “happiness is a balloon that could burst at any time”)
Sources of happiness are usually assessed through the question “What makes you happy?” In our research, it seems that most respondents answered this hypothetical question

Summary

Introduction

The question Do you feel happy in general? is a routine part of a number of international surveys, but this “simple question” brings along with it many caveats and still captures researchers’ attention (e.g. Veenhoven 2010a, 2010b). Is a routine part of a number of international surveys, but this “simple question” brings along with it many caveats and still captures researchers’ attention (e.g. Veenhoven 2010a, 2010b). While this question may be futile for those who believe that the main characteristic of happiness is its instability, it is rather inapplicable for those who either state that happiness is everything or that happiness does not exist. Many happiness studies have examined lay peoples’ understanding of the concept of happiness.

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