Subjective Expressions of Happiness: A Cross-cultural Examination

Description

Page: 547-555

Deepthi Balla (Psychologist and Independent Scholar, Vishakhapatanam)

Happiness, a momentary feeling, could be a key factor in understanding wellbeing of people. Since it is subjective, no single definition would define the construct. The present study attempts to explore the differences or similarities, if any, among the individuals of different cultures. The sample consists of 71 individuals from three regions, namely India, Africa and USA. The researcher constructed a checklist comprising 8 items, including demographic and in specific how the individuals define happiness, attribute happiness to, and finally their cultural evaluation of happiness. Objective data is obtained using the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire by Hills and Argyle (2002) which consists of 29 items. Its variability across age groups ranged from 0.78 to 0.94 to date. The researcher has composed a Google form for both, and with the help of a social psychologist in the USA and students in Africa, data is collected. The final sample consists of 38.6 % Asian Indians, 28.7 % Africans and the remaining 3 % US. In the Indian sample, females are happier than males, while in the African sample, males are happier. Males showed independent activities that could relieve their boredom, like exercise, a long drive, etc., while females expressed prayer, online shopping, and expressing emotional relief. Never been married in the sample are happier than others. Single or divorced, engaged in online activities for their happiness. Regarding subjective expressions, all groups expressed happiness with contentment with what one has and also with what one wants to achieve (c2= 34.620; df 15; p= 0.003). This cross-cultural sample unanimously reported that in their cultures, ‘to have a certain social status’ is considered happiness (c2= 98.340; df =27; p=0.000). Unique expressions by Africans regarding happiness were Exercise and Workout, Prayer, teaching the younger generation, engaging in Facebook, and Online shopping, while Indians expressed that eating delicacies triggers happiness (c2= 213.777; df. 108; p=0.000). Male expressions of happiness are similar to the findings of Hart et al. (2018). African tendencies of engaging in social activities are in tune with the work of Doh and Chung (2020). Observations of this small sample indicated differences in expressions of happiness. Further large sample is needed for making affirmative conclusions.