Critical Perspectives in Happiness Research

This book presents an interdisciplinary exploration of the origins of happiness in modern Western culture and argues that happiness is not universal but is rather a culturally and historically specific experience, characteristic only to the Western world.

Explores the concept of modernization as the collective pursuit of happiness Places the concept of happiness into a historical and cultural context Analyses the relationship of modern consumer culture with happiness in contemporary western societies Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Auteur

Dr. Luka Zevnik is assistant professor at University of Ljubljana. He is interdisciplinary oriented and has presented conference papers and published on happiness and emotions, popular culture, consumer culture, experience, cultural studies and neuroscience.

Contenu
Introduction: Towards a Critical Perspective in Happiness Research.- Chapter 1. Overview of Happiness Research.- Chapter 2. Happiness, Culture and Relations of Power.- Chapter 3. The Return to Happiness: A New Interdisciplinary Approach to Happiness Research.- Chapter 4. Middle Ages: The Time before Happiness.- Chapter 5. The Origins of Happiness in Renaissance and Reformation.- Chapter 6. The Birth of Modern Happiness.- Chapter 7. The Evolution of Happiness: Development of Happiness from its Birth to its Contemporary Manifestations.- Chapter 8. Conclusion: Modernization as the Collective Pursuit of Happiness.