Definition: Happy Family

nnFamily HappinessnHappiness is emotion in which one experiences feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense joy. This definition is, however, a synonymous one. A more clarified one is almost impossible to conceive due to the capacity by which a human can allocate the correct words into an appropriate and meritable sentence that would describe happiness.n

nPositive psychologynnIn his book Authentic Happiness, Martin Seligman, one of the founders of Positive psychology, describes happiness as consisting of 'positive emotions' and 'positive activities'.nnHe further categorizes emotions related to the past, present and future. Positive emotions relating to the past include satisfaction, contentment, pride and serenity. Positive emotions relating to the future include optimism, hope and trust. Positive emotions about the present are divided into two categories: pleasure and gratifications. The bodily and higher pleasures are "pleasures of the moment" and usually involve some external stimulus.nnGratifications involve full engagement, flow, elimination of self-consciousness, and blocking of felt emotions. But when a gratification comes to an end then positive emotions will be felt. Gratifications can be obtained or increased by developing 'signature strengths' and virtues. Authenticity is the derivation of gratification and positive emotions from exercising signature strengths. The good life comes from using 'signature strengths' to obtain abundant gratification in, for example, enjoying work and creative activities. The most profound sense of happiness is experienced through the 'meaningful life', achieved if one exercises one's uniques strengths and virtues in a purpose greater than one's own immediate goals.nnSteven Reiss found that nearly everything we experience as meaningful can be traced to one of 16 basic desires or to some combination of these desires. When humans satisfy their desires and live in accordance with their values they take happiness in passing.nnWorldwide happinessnnMichael Argyle developed The Oxford Happiness Inventory as a broad measure of psychological wellbeing. This measures happiness as an aggregate of self-esteem, sense of purpose, social interest and kindness, sense of humor and aesthetic appreciation. This has been criticized for lacking a theoretical model of happiness and because it is felt that certain aspects overlap. Some studies suggest that happiness can be measured effectively.nnWhat causes happiness - scientific researchnnLooking for the level of happiness as reported by people, and comparing it to various elements in their life reveals the following findings: nn 1. About 50% of one's happiness depends on one's genes. This is shown by studying identical twins, and learning that their happiness is 50% correlated even when growing up in different houses.n 2. 10-15% is a result of various measurable variables, such as socioeconomic status, marital status, health, income, and others.n 3. The rest of the variance does not have a discernible cause. Called "unexplained variance", it may actually be attributed to noise.nnWikipedia, the free enclyclopedia © 2001-2008 Wikipedia ContributorsnThis article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation Licensen

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