Happiness in the United Arab Emirates: conceptualisations of happiness among Emirati and other Arab students. (1st January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: D'raven, Louise Lambert; Pasha–Zaidi, Nausheen
• Is Part Of: International journal of happiness and development. Volume 2:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2015-01-01
• Subjects: culture -- happiness conceptualisations -- positive psychology -- Emirati -- Arab students -- lay conceptions -- United Arab Emirates -- expatriate students -- family -- social groups -- emotion -- religion -- goal setting -- good governance; Happiness -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Happiness -- Periodicals; Well-being -- Periodicals; Quality of life -- Periodicals; 302.5
• DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2015.067590
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-2790

Abstract

How happiness is defined depends on who is asked. The prevailing views of happiness currently found in the literature tend to be Western and individualistic and shape what is viewed as normative. In this descriptive exploratory study, based in the United Arab Emirates, Emirati and other Arab expatriate students were asked to define happiness and describe how it is viewed by their cultures. Both groups defined happiness as a collective state generated through relationships with family and social groups, rather than through the self. It was also defined as an emotion and approach to life and involved religion and goal setting. Emiratis noted the presence of good governance as a contributor to happiness while other Arabs noted its absence. The findings enrich the current understanding of happiness and provide a preliminary view of what other cultures may consider to be happiness.