Positive Psychology What's Right With Me Research Paper
Pursuit of Happiness Assignment Week 6
Mathews Ledet III, Student Number 9017891997
PSY 220/Positive Psychology: What’s Right With Me
Alan Coffin
Axia College, University of Phoenix
Due: January 19, 2014
The perspective one’s happiness can be traced back to ancient world philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Confucius and Plato. Each had their own views on happiness and what defines it, and their beliefs would spread throughout the world. Different societies would take to different perspective and integrate it into their culture. Everyone desire happiness, but how to achieve it can differ. While American and Asian society both pursue happiness, the views on how to achieve it differ because of cultural and origin differences of the two cultures. …show more content…
The traditional American perspective on the pursuit of happiness can be traced back to the Declaration of Independence.
This declaration was written to declare a union among 13 American colonies that would form a union to break free from the rule of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence listed certain unalienable rights that all men should have, and among them were the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (Wikipedia, n.d.). This stressed that everyman had the right to pursue individual choices in life to achieve their own happiness and desire. Instead of living by the terms of Great Britain and living life the way Britain wanted to, the colonist wanted freedom of choice for each man to do what they regarded as important to them. This would lead to the American Revolution, which would lead to what has become the United States of America and the cultural beliefs of Individual
happiness. In looking at traditional Asian perspectives on happiness, its origin can be linked to Confucianism, and Confucius ideas of shared social responsibility and morality. Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system developed from the teaching of Chinese philosopher Confucius and provided a way of life to make society as a whole happy (Wikipedia, n.d.). Humanism was the core of Confucianism, which stressed honesty, loyalty, treating other in society with respect and thinking things through without emotions getting in the way. It also stressed social harmony, which required each member of society to recognize their role in the social order of society and fulfilling that role for the greater good of the community. The changing of rulers and dynasty in China led to the end of Confucianism at points in history, but his teachings would still spread. Confucianism would come and go throughout history, but its core beliefs influenced many Asian nations and is parts of it are integrated in the foundation of many of their beliefs. The origins of the Asian and American views of happiness were integrated in their cultures, and factored into the way the pursuit of happiness is perceived. Like many western nations America has an individualistic culture (Baumgardner and Crothers/University of Phoenix, 2009). As the forming of a free America, American culture stress Independence and freedom. Individual happiness is more important in American culture. It stress individual rights and responsibility. The pursuit of happiness is associated with personal happiness and achievements. In American culture people are encouraged to be individuals and distinct from others. They are also encouraged to reach for their personal dreams, express their emotions, and achieve goals and to take pride in those accomplishments. Even children are encouraged to be emotional expressive, take pride in their achievements and to be different from others (Cloud, 2011). The pursuit of happiness is based on individual achievements, rights and freedom. The Asian culture thoughts on achieving happiness is associated with the entire society’s harmony (Wikipedia, n.d.). More emphasis is put on social harmony than individual success. Happiness is less important as a cultural idea for self-gratification. Also, the perspective of happy and sad is not stressed, and it is more about having a balanced emotional state. Interdependence is a focal point of Asian culture, and is linked to Confucius ideas of everyone playing their social role in society for the good of the whole community. Individual are also encourage to be critical of self-evaluation. Individual happiness is also frowned upon in Asian culture, and seeking to do what makes family and society better or happy is in turn viewed as achieving happiness. Children in Asian culture are encouraged to moderate their emotions, fit it with others and take pride in the achievements of the group. The foundation of happiness in Asian culture is based on what is best for the group or community, and promoting the happiness of others over individual happiness. Happiness has manning different meanings to the varying societies of the World. The varied societies in the world beliefs have been influenced by ancient philosophers whose messages resonated with the people, and important moments in their cultures history. When researching and comparing the traditional views of American and Asian thoughts on how to achieve e happiness, the differences are apparent. The culture of these two societies are factors in the societal belief of pursuing happiness. Experiences and important moments through time have been integrated into these cultures to form a foundation of their respective beliefs. Regardless of these differing beliefs and perspective, the constant is that what each perceives as important forms their views on happiness.
Reference Page
Cloud, J. (2011, May). Happiness: Asian versus American. Time Health Magazine, Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/04whyhappinesss-isnt-always-asian-vs-americans
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia.Org. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Asia
Wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wiki/Life,_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness
Steve R. Baumgardner and Marie K. Crothers. /University of Phoenix. (2009). Positive Psychology. Retrieved from Steve R. Baumgardner and Marie K. Crothers. /University of Phoenix, PSY220 website.
Mathews Ledet III, Student Number 9017891997
PSY 220/Positive Psychology: What’s Right With Me
Alan Coffin
Axia College, University of Phoenix
Due: January 19, 2014
The perspective one’s happiness can be traced back to ancient world philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Confucius and Plato. Each had their own views on happiness and what defines it, and their beliefs would spread throughout the world. Different societies would take to different perspective and integrate it into their culture. Everyone desire happiness, but how to achieve it can differ. While American and Asian society both pursue happiness, the views on how to achieve it differ because of cultural and origin differences of the two cultures. …show more content…
The traditional American perspective on the pursuit of happiness can be traced back to the Declaration of Independence.
This declaration was written to declare a union among 13 American colonies that would form a union to break free from the rule of Great Britain. The Declaration of Independence listed certain unalienable rights that all men should have, and among them were the right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (Wikipedia, n.d.). This stressed that everyman had the right to pursue individual choices in life to achieve their own happiness and desire. Instead of living by the terms of Great Britain and living life the way Britain wanted to, the colonist wanted freedom of choice for each man to do what they regarded as important to them. This would lead to the American Revolution, which would lead to what has become the United States of America and the cultural beliefs of Individual
happiness. In looking at traditional Asian perspectives on happiness, its origin can be linked to Confucianism, and Confucius ideas of shared social responsibility and morality. Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system developed from the teaching of Chinese philosopher Confucius and provided a way of life to make society as a whole happy (Wikipedia, n.d.). Humanism was the core of Confucianism, which stressed honesty, loyalty, treating other in society with respect and thinking things through without emotions getting in the way. It also stressed social harmony, which required each member of society to recognize their role in the social order of society and fulfilling that role for the greater good of the community. The changing of rulers and dynasty in China led to the end of Confucianism at points in history, but his teachings would still spread. Confucianism would come and go throughout history, but its core beliefs influenced many Asian nations and is parts of it are integrated in the foundation of many of their beliefs. The origins of the Asian and American views of happiness were integrated in their cultures, and factored into the way the pursuit of happiness is perceived. Like many western nations America has an individualistic culture (Baumgardner and Crothers/University of Phoenix, 2009). As the forming of a free America, American culture stress Independence and freedom. Individual happiness is more important in American culture. It stress individual rights and responsibility. The pursuit of happiness is associated with personal happiness and achievements. In American culture people are encouraged to be individuals and distinct from others. They are also encouraged to reach for their personal dreams, express their emotions, and achieve goals and to take pride in those accomplishments. Even children are encouraged to be emotional expressive, take pride in their achievements and to be different from others (Cloud, 2011). The pursuit of happiness is based on individual achievements, rights and freedom. The Asian culture thoughts on achieving happiness is associated with the entire society’s harmony (Wikipedia, n.d.). More emphasis is put on social harmony than individual success. Happiness is less important as a cultural idea for self-gratification. Also, the perspective of happy and sad is not stressed, and it is more about having a balanced emotional state. Interdependence is a focal point of Asian culture, and is linked to Confucius ideas of everyone playing their social role in society for the good of the whole community. Individual are also encourage to be critical of self-evaluation. Individual happiness is also frowned upon in Asian culture, and seeking to do what makes family and society better or happy is in turn viewed as achieving happiness. Children in Asian culture are encouraged to moderate their emotions, fit it with others and take pride in the achievements of the group. The foundation of happiness in Asian culture is based on what is best for the group or community, and promoting the happiness of others over individual happiness. Happiness has manning different meanings to the varying societies of the World. The varied societies in the world beliefs have been influenced by ancient philosophers whose messages resonated with the people, and important moments in their cultures history. When researching and comparing the traditional views of American and Asian thoughts on how to achieve e happiness, the differences are apparent. The culture of these two societies are factors in the societal belief of pursuing happiness. Experiences and important moments through time have been integrated into these cultures to form a foundation of their respective beliefs. Regardless of these differing beliefs and perspective, the constant is that what each perceives as important forms their views on happiness.
Reference Page
Cloud, J. (2011, May). Happiness: Asian versus American. Time Health Magazine, Retrieved from http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/04whyhappinesss-isnt-always-asian-vs-americans
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia.Org. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Asia
Wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wiki/Life,_liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_happiness
Steve R. Baumgardner and Marie K. Crothers. /University of Phoenix. (2009). Positive Psychology. Retrieved from Steve R. Baumgardner and Marie K. Crothers. /University of Phoenix, PSY220 website.