Culture and Subjective Well-being

• Main Authors: SIM, Jing Han, KOH, Sharon, SCOLLON, Christie N.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2015
• Subjects: 5HTTLPR; Collectivism; Culture; Emotions; GDP; Happiness; Individualism; Materialism; National differences; Norms; Subjective well-being; Social Psychology
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1481; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.25095-2
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Subjective well-being (SWB) is what most people refer to as happiness. It is people's subjective sense that life is going well. Many factors influence SWB, and culture is of course an important one. The present article describes the cultural differences in SWB, beginning with the desirability of happiness around the world. Next, the authors discuss the major cultural differences in SWB, for example, which regions and cultures are happiest. Next, the article reviews the literature that has sought to explain the cause of these differences. Finally, the article concludes with a view toward future research in culture and SWB.