Skip to main content

Definition of happiness according to oxford's dictionary

Image result for what is happiness
Let’s take a look at the definition of happiness so we’re all on the same page. Oxford Dictionary’s definition of “happiness” is a simple one: “The state of being happy.”
Not exactly what we were looking for, was it? Perhaps we need to dive a little deeper.
Oxford Dictionary’s definition of happy is a little more helpful: “Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.”
That’s better! So, happiness is the state of feeling or showing pleasure or contentment. From this definition, we can glean a few important points about happiness:
  1. Happiness is a state, not a trait; in other words, it isn’t a long-lasting, permanent feature or personality trait, but a more fleeting, changeable state.
  2. Happiness is equated with feeling pleasure or contentment, meaning that happiness is not to be confused with joy, ecstasy, bliss, or other more intense feelings.
  3. Happiness can be either feeling or showing, meaning that happiness is not necessarily an internal or external experience, but can be both.

Now we have a better grasp on what happiness is or at least, how the Oxford Dictionary defines what happiness is. However, this definition is not the end or be-all definition of happiness. In fact, the definition of happiness is not a “settled” debate!
Image result for what is happiness

Image from google
https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/what-is-happiness/

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Origins and Etymology of Happiness (Incl. Root Words)

According to  Etymology Online , the word for “happy” in most languages came from the word for “lucky.” This suggests an interesting trend—perhaps our ancestors believed that happiness was largely a by-product of luck? It also points to a possible difference of general opinion between earlier generations and our own 20th and 21st-century generations: that happiness was not a vital factor in a good life, but essentially a bonus that some lucky individuals got to experience. Here’s what author Darrin McMahon writes about the origins and root words of the word “happiness”: “It is a striking fact that in every Indo-European language, without exception, going all the way back to ancient Greek, the word for happiness is a cognate with the word for luck. Hap is the Old Norse and Old English root of happiness, and it just means luck or chance, as did the Old French heur, giving us bonheur, good fortune or happiness. German gives us the word Gluck, which to this day means both happi...

HAPPINESS VS PLEASURE VS MEANING

Pleasure vs. Happiness With the close ties between pleasure and happiness, you might be wondering how to differentiate between them. After all, the Oxford definition of happiness describes it as a state of feeling pleasure! The association between the two makes sense, and it’s common to hear the two words used interchangeably outside of the literature; however, when it comes to the science of positive psychology, it is important to make a distinction between the two. Happiness, as we described above, is a state characterized by feelings of contentment and satisfaction with one’s life or current situation. On the other hand, pleasure is a more visceral, in-the-moment experience. It refers to the positive feelings we get from experiences like eating good food, getting a massage, receiving a compliment, or having sex. Happiness , while not a permanent state, is a more stable state than pleasure. Happiness generally sticks around for longer than a few moments at a time, ...

What Sources Create True Personal Happiness?

Taking together all the various theories and findings on happiness, we know that there are at least a few factors that are very important for overall happiness: Individual income Labor market status Physical health Family Social relationships Moral values Experience of positive emotions (AIPC, 2011). All of these factors can contribute to a happy life, but research has found time and again that good relationships are the most vital ingredient (Waldinger & Schulz, 2010). When we are happy in our most important  relationships  (usually our spouse or significant other, our children and/or our parents, other close family members, and our closest friends), we tend to be happier overall. We have control over how our relationships go (in general), so that leads us to an interesting and important question: can we increase our own happiness? Can an Individual Learn How to be Happy? The answer from numerous studies is a resounding YES! You can indeed learn ho...