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The Social Psychology of Latin American Happiness

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Handbook of Happiness Research in Latin America

Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

Latin America is one of the happiest regions in the world. However, this high subjective well beingdoes not correspond to the modern prototype of happiness which is based on the belief that richness and autonomy are the basic building blocks of a good life. Latin American countries fall in the middle income group with not a single nation in the high income economies. It is a region low on individualism and high on collectivism. Therefore, the understanding of Latin American happiness is not just a cross-cultural curiosity, it is an important case study for Happiness Science in order to understand the basic building blocks of a happy culture. This chapter studies the cultural roots of Latin American happiness and challenge the widespread believe that modernization and individuality are fundamental drivers of happiness.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    An intermediate place between a small traditional village of some few households and a urban city.

  2. 2.

    Parcel of land which is cultivated.

  3. 3.

    Spending for the benefit of others.

  4. 4.

    Pueblo is a bigger than a village but smaller than a city settlement.

  5. 5.

    In contrast, Amazonian perceives Andeans as greedy.

  6. 6.

    A group of power in an organization. It rules the career of the members of the group based in the loyalty and belonging to the group of power, above the abilities, competence and performance of an individual.

  7. 7.

    Eudaimonic well-being states that happiness is not about the maximisation of pleasure, avoiding pain; it is the fulfilling of intrinsically needs.

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Acknowledgements

The Economic and Social Research Council (UK), the Dirección de Gestión de la Investigación de la PUCP, and B y P Bienestar y Productividad provided the funds for the results here reported.

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    Jorge Yamamoto

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  1. FLACSO-Mexico & UPAEP, Mexico City, Mexico

    Mariano Rojas

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Yamamoto, J. (2016). The Social Psychology of Latin American Happiness. In: Rojas, M. (eds) Handbook of Happiness Research in Latin America. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7203-7_3

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