Culture and Subjective Well-being
Publication Type
Encyclopaedia
Publication Date
4-2015
Abstract
Subjective well-being (SWB) is what most people refer to as happiness. It is people's subjective sense that life is going well. Many factors influence SWB, and culture is of course an important one. The present article describes the cultural differences in SWB, beginning with the desirability of happiness around the world. Next, the authors discuss the major cultural differences in SWB, for example, which regions and cultures are happiest. Next, the article reviews the literature that has sought to explain the cause of these differences. Finally, the article concludes with a view toward future research in culture and SWB.
Keywords
5HTTLPR, Collectivism, Culture, Emotions, GDP, Happiness, Individualism, Materialism, National differences, Norms, Subjective well-being
Discipline
Social Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Editor
James D. Wright
First Page
643
Last Page
647
ISBN
9780080970868
Identifier
10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.25095-2
Edition
2nd ed.
Publisher
Elsevier
City or Country
Amsterdam
Citation
SIM, Jing Han; KOH, Sharon; and SCOLLON, Christie N., "Culture and Subjective Well-being" (2015). Research Collection School of Social Sciences. Paper 1481.
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1481
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1481
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.25095-2