Published
Jan 18, 2012Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1847429193Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
Jan 18, 2012Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1847429209Dimensions
234 x 156 mmImprint
Policy PressPublished
Jan 18, 2012Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1447308157Dimensions
Imprint
Policy PressPublished
Jan 18, 2012Page count
320 pagesISBN
978-1447308164Dimensions
Imprint
Policy Press
Social Happiness
The development of happiness as an explicit theme in social research and policy worldwide has been rapid and remarkable, posing fundamental questions about our personal and collective motives and purposes.
This book examines the achievements and potential of applied happiness scholarship in diverse cultures and domains. It argues that progressive policies require a substantial and explicit consideration of happiness. Part one introduces the development of happiness themes in scholarship, policy and moral discourse. Part two explores the interplay between happiness scholarship and a wide variety of domains of social experience, including relationship guidance, managing social aspirations, parenting, schooling, gender reform, work-life harmonizing, marketing and consumption and rethinking old age.
This exciting new text will appeal to policy makers, social organizers and community development practitioners, especially those interested in well-being related policy innovation and social entrepreneurship. It will also be of interest to academics embedded in policy practice.
Neil Thin is Senior Lecturer in the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh, and co-author of several books on poverty, social development, happiness, education and participatory forestry. Since 1987 he has been lecturing and conducting applied research on social planning and sustainable development, and, since 2003, on happiness.
Preface: On happiness, rationality, and empathy in scholarship and policy; Part one: Happiness in policy discourse and research; Introduction: prosperity debates and the happiness lens; What really matters: concepts, evaluations and objections; Effects of happiness (and unhappiness); Thinking ourselves happy: on the policy relevance of both subjectivity and objectivity; Who makes happiness happen? On positive deviance, emotion work, and psychosocial contagion; Governance and responsibility: towards the eudaimonic state?; Assessing happiness: measurement and beyond; Correlations and causal theories; Part Two: Social happiness in policy and practice; Love: fighting philophobia around the world; The shape of good hope: Cultivating reasonable aspirations; Positive parenting and cheerful childlessness; Schooling for joy; New gender agendas: feel-good feminism for fun and fulfilment; Working for happiness, happily working, and work-life harmony; Shopping for happiness: corporate happwash and consumption ethics; Geronto-eudaimonics: late-life thriving for all; Conclusions: review and prospects.
