In search of happiness: rethinking well-being and the good life
Happiness is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon, shaped by personal, social, and cultural factors. It is commonly defined as a state of well-being and contentment. Happiness is closely linked to concepts such as meaning, purpose, emotional regulation, and psychological resilience.
Happiness should not be confused with constant positivity or the absence of hardship. It is not synonymous with wealth, success, or perfection. Instead, happiness involves a balance of emotional experiences, a sense of purpose, and the ability to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and hope. What constitutes happiness can vary significantly across individuals and cultures, making it a rich area for interdisciplinary exploration.
We invite scholarly contributions that shed light on happiness, subjective well-being, and related themes. We are interested in research that explores what contributes to happiness, how it is experienced and measured, and what can be done to promote it at both individual and societal levels. We also welcome critical and cultural perspectives on the pursuit of happiness and its implications in contemporary life.
While we primarily seek contributions from the fields of psychology and allied social sciences, interdisciplinary submissions from other relevant fields are also encouraged.
Research is welcomed on a range of themes, including but not limited to:
- Theoretical foundations of happiness (e.g., PERMA, Self-determination, Flow theory)
- Measuring happiness (e.g., subjective well-being (SWB), Life satisfaction scales)
- The role of family, community, and social relationships
- Work, purpose and life satisfaction
- Lived experiences and psychological correlates of happiness
- Cross-cultural and comparative perspectives on happiness
- Demographic, generational, gender, racial, and socio-economic influences
- Interpretations and portrayals (e.g., cultural, media, literary) of happiness and well-being
- Practices, emotional interventions and regulation to enhance well-being (e.g., mindfulness and meditation, journaling, gratitude, compassion, forgiveness)
- Policy implications and societal approaches to promoting happiness
- Technology, digital life, and their impact on happiness
- Non-Western perspectives and global understandings of well-being
Research that focuses on clinical issues or neuroscience will be judged out of scope.
Editors
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