Cultural Construction and Ways of Experiencing Happiness

Abstract

The aim of the study was to find out possible meanings of happiness and the ways of interpretation on individual and collective levels. Factors like age, gender, education, casts, marital status, income residence and professions were asked in demographic section of socio-economic form (SES). A semi structured interview guide was developed having 18 loosely structured questions to keep the flow of interviews on right lines. There were 3 basic objective of the study; to understand how this phenomena is articulated, to explore the mechanism of sharing and to know how the concept of happiness is used in social welfare. Sample size was 30 and the data gathered was analyzed by thematic coding analysis. Finding of the qualitative data was that happiness is a relative term and SOCially constructed term. Happiness can be in many forms but the real happiness according to respondents was the subjective well-being and inner satisfaction. There are many material and non material sources of happiness but helping others is the biggest source of happiness and the best way of sharing happiness. Happiness must be share for the social welfare in the society.