Abstract
India is an interesting test case for happiness. It is a unique society because of its unusual history, rapid economic growth, large population and its ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity. In this chapter we explore happiness as both an “outside-in” and “inside-out” phenomenon and place this discussion in the Indian context. From the outside-in perspective we review survey data on the life satisfaction of Indians, suggesting that they are mildly satisfied but may become more so as policies are developed to deliver jobs and infrastructure to more people. From the inside-out perspective we examine the many ways in which subtle culture affects individual happiness. Finally, we make recommendations for happiness interventions.
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Notes
- 1.
In this chapter we tend to use “happiness” and “wellbeing” as interchangeable concepts especially when describing the abstract concept of happiness. When we discuss research on specific aspects of wellbeing, such as life satisfaction or positive emotions, we clearly identify the exact concept under scrutiny.
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Biswas-Diener, R., Tay, L., Diener, E. (2012). Happiness in India. In: Selin, H., Davey, G. (eds) Happiness Across Cultures. Science Across Cultures: the History of Non-Western Science, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2700-7_2
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