Pozityvioji psichologija akcentuoja charakterio stiprybių ir laimingumo svarbą asmenybės gyvenimo kokybei, fizinei ir psichinei sveikatai, tačiau netirtos galimos šių reiškinių sąsajos su priežastimis gyventi, kurios gali būti reikšmingos vykdant savižudybių prevenciją. Atsižvelgiant į paauglystės amžiaus problemiškumą, šio tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti vyresniųjų klasių mokinių charakterio stiprybių ir laimingumo ryšį su priežastimis gyventi. Tyrime dalyvavo 180 (109 merginos ir 71 vaikinas) IX – XII klasių Kėdainių rajono Akademijos vidurinės mokyklos mokinių. Charakterio stiprybės matuotos tam skirto Charakterio stiprybių ir dorybių klausimyno trumpuoju variantu, sukurtu C. Peterson ir M. E. P. Seligman 2003 metais. Respondentų laimingumas apskaičiuotas Subjektyvaus laimingumo skale, sukurta S. Lyubomirsky 1999 m. Vyresniųjų klasių mokinių priežastys gyventi tirtos Priežasčių gyventi klausimynu, skirtu paaugliams, kurį sukūrė A. Osman 1998 metais. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad charakterio stiprybės statistiškai patikimai skiriasi lyties atžvilgiu. Išskirta po tris labiausiai išreikštas charakterio stiprybes – merginų grupėje: humoras ir žaismingumas, mylėjimas ir buvimas mylima/meilės priėmimas bei dvasingumas/tikėjimas; vaikinų: mylėjimas ir buvimas mylimu/meilės priėmimas, dvasingumas/tikėjimas ir pomėgis mokytis. Taip pat rasti skirtumai tarp vaikinams ir merginoms reikšmingų priežasčių gyventi išreikštumo. Statistiškai reikšmingų skirtumų tarp vaikinų ir merginų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Positive psychology of character strengths highlights the importance of personal happiness and quality of life, physical and mental health, but these effects have not been studied in a link with the reasons for living, which may be of interest in the suicide prevention. Evaluating the problemic side of adolescence the purpose of the study is to assess high school students' character strengths and happiness relationship with reasons for living. The study included 180 pupils (109 girls and 71 boy) of IX - XII grades from Kėdainiai District the Akademija Secondary school. The strengths of character were measured by the short version of the questionnaire, developed by C. Peterson and M. E. P. Seligman in 2003. The happiness of respondents were measured by Subjective happiness scale, the author - S. Lyubomirsky 1999. The reasons for living of the older pupils were investigated by the questionnaire created by A. Osman in 1998 and called The reasons for living questionnaire. The results showed statistical difference between the strength of character and gender. Excluded three most pronounced character strengths - in girls group: the humour and playfulness, loving and allowing oneself to be loved, spirituality/faith; in boys group: loving and allowing oneself to be loved, spirituality/faith and love of learning. Results also showed differences in the expression of the significant reasons for living between boys and girls. There were no statistically significant differences found in... [to full text]

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A consecutive series of 149 subjects with complete or partial vocational disability due to somatic ill-health were investigated at admission for vocational rehabilitation and two years later. Subjects filled in checklists which encompassed 5 socio-demographic, 5 psycho-social and 9 life satisfaction items. Moreover, 5 dimensions of "handicap" were assessed. At admission subjects were physically examined. In this diagnostically mixed sample 80 of them had non-specific locomotor dysfunction with pain ("algia"). In this sub-sample 23 symptoms (yes/no alternatives) and 24 signs (present/not present) were registered. At the two-year follow-up actual source and level of income were registered and 126 subjects reported their levels of life satisfaction. A reference population including 163 employed subjects was used for comparisons of levels of life satisfaction.At admission satisfaction with life as a whole (level of happiness) and with 6/8 domain specific life satisfaction items were significantly lower for the vocational rehabilitation clients than for the references. Psycho-socio-demographic items formed 5 factors, two were socio-demographic and three psycho-social characteristics. Only few were "handicapped" concerning orientation, mobility and self-care, while the majority were financially and/or occupationally "handicapped". At the two-year follow-up 91% of the partly and 67% of those who at admission were completely vocationally disabled were undergoing education or were gainfully employed, giving a success rate of 77%. Moreover, return to work from unemployment resulted in significantly increased income. Successful rehabilitation resulted in normalization of the majority of life satisfaction domains. This was particularly true for overall vocational satisfaction. Level of happiness was increased but not up to the level of the references. At follow-up the level of or change in (admission/follow-up computations) vocational satisfaction were major predictors for level of or change in happiness. Hence, successful vocational rehabilitation led to increased social well-being. For the total sample major predictors of outcome were: Level of experienced health and belief in vocational return. It is suggested that these two variables arc useful instruments for vocational rehabilitation decision making. In the algic sub-sample signs and symptoms were - statistically - combined into 8 meaningful entities, characterizing regional, postural and relational syndromes. Whereas these may not necessarily be generalizable they may be of clinical descriptory value. However, only one of them contributed to outcome prediction; the major predictors for those algic subjects being belief in vocational return and sex. / <p>S. 1-48: sammanfattning, s. 49-125: 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

In the 1940s, 50s and 60s the two youth movements of the beats and the hippies emerged in the United States. Disagreeing with the progressive positivism of the previous generations these youths were part of a counter culture that adhered to an ideal of living in the present. Alan Wilson Watts (1915–1973), most known for his popularization of eastern philosophy and religion in general and Zen-Buddhism in particular, became one of the most influential and well-read advocates of the new movements. Drawing upon eastern philosophy and religion as well as modern psychology, Watts challenged the western world view by rejecting the dualism of self and environment, arguing that man is one with God and nature and claiming that nothing exists but the present experience here and now. Based on Watts’ view of man and reality, and in the context of the emerging youth movements, this study examines Watts’ criticism of western culture and society as well as his view on happiness and the possibility of a better life for the individual living in the west. The study shows that, according to Watts, the root of the problem facing western society lies in man’s incapability of distinguishing concept from reality, preferring abstract ideas and symbols to the experience present in everyday life. As a result, man perceives himself as separate from nature, waging war on his environment in a futile attempt at finding happiness by constantly striving for ever greater achievements of which the main goal always seems to lie somewhere in the future but never in the present. His ideas inspired the youth movements, although they moved in a different direction than the one he would have wanted. Watts, suggesting that an altered understanding of oneself as one with the universe is central in maintaining a thriving society in union with nature, claims that the essence of happiness consists of this understanding here in the present rather than the pursuit and obtaining of a desired goal.

Syftet med studien var att studera äldre människors, boende i särskilt boende, känsla och upplevelse av egen livskvalitet. Frågeställningarna för studien var "Vad främjar och hindrar känslan och upplevelsen av livskvalitet hos äldre", "I vilket sammanhang och med vem upplever äldre hög livskvalitet" och " Hur har känslan och upplevelsen av livskvalitet förändrats efter det att man flyttat till ett särskilt boende". Valet av begreppen, välbefinnande, tillfredsställelse och lycka, är gjord utifrån Bengt Brüldes blandade livskvalitetsteori. Studien vilar således på Brüldes teori och tankar kring livskvalitet och hur livskvalitet kan undersökas. Studien har en kvalitativ ansats, där semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med sex äldre personer boende i särskilt boende i en mindre kommun. Analysen skedde enligt DePoy och Gitlins fyra tanke- och handlingsprocesser vid kvalitativa analyser. Ett induktivt förhållningssätt anammandes där kategorier, taxonomier och teman plockades fram. De kategorier som framträdde främst var hälsa, betydelsefulla relationer och social samvaro med andra, övriga kategorier som nämndes av informanterna var trygghet/otrygghet, ekonomi samt ödmjukhet. Studien visar liknande resultat som tidigare bedriven forskning, nationellt som internationellt. De likheter som framträtt är att en god hälsa är en bidragande orsak till en ökad känsla och upplevelse av livskvalitet, men också betydelsen av nära och goda relationer till familj och vänner. Vidare lyfts betydelsen av goda levnadsvillkor så som ekonomi upp av informanterna. Likväl lyfter informanterna vikten av fritidsaktiviteter men också tidigare erfarenheter från livet. Det som framträtt som mest intressant i analysen är vår tolkning av att äldre är ödmjuka, vilket kan påverka deras känsla och upplevelse av egen livskvalitet genom att de ej alltid kan med att fråga om den hjälp eller det stöd de är i behov av. Det finns enligt oss grund till att finna arbetssätt inom socialt arbete med äldre för att bibehålla och främja känslan och upplevelsen av egen livskvalitet bland äldre under de åren de är boende i ett särskilt boende. Detta utifrån analysen där vår tolkning visar på att äldres ödmjukhet kan komma att påverka känslan och upplevelsen av egen livskvalitet negativt. / The aim of the study was to examine elderly´s, residents of nursing homes, feeling and experience of their own Quality of Life by examining their sense of well-being, satisfaction and happiness. The questions for this study was "What promotes and prevents the feeling and the experience of Quality of Life in elderly", "In what context and with whom perceive elderly high Quality of Life" and "How has the feeling and perception of Quality of Life changed after they moved to a nursing home". The choice of terms, well-being, satisfaction and happiness, has been made from Bengt Brüldes mixed Quality of Life theory. The Study is thus based on Brüldes theory ant thoughts about life and how Quality of Life can be examined. The study has a qualitative approach, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with six elderly living in nursing homes in a small community. The analysis was done according to DePoy and Gitlins four thought and action processes of qualitative analysis. An inductive approach was used where categories, taxonomies and themes were picked up. The categories that emerged were primarily health, meaningful relationships and social interaction with others. Other categories that emerged were help/support, security/unsecurity, economy and humility. The study shows similar results to previous research projects nationally and internationally. The similarities that emerged is that good health is a contributing factor to an increased feeling and perception of Quality of Life, but also the importance of close and good relationships with family and friends. Furthermore, informants raised the importance of good living conditions so as economy. Nevertheless informants lift the importance of extracurricular activities but also past experience of life. What emerged as the most interesting in the analysis is our interpretation of the elderly as humble, which can affect their sense and experience of their own Quality of Life if their humbleness affect their ability to ask for help and support. Due to the findings of the study we are of the meaning that its of importance in social work with elderly to maintain and promote the feeling and perception of Quality of Life among elderly living in nursing homes. This is based on the analysis where our interpretation suggests that elderly's humility may affect their feeling and experience of individual Quality of Life negatively.

Faces provide cues for judgments regarding the emotional state of individuals. Using signal-detection methodology and a standardized stimulus set, the overall aim of the present dissertation was to investigate the detection of emotional facial expressions (i.e., angry and happy faces) with neutral expressions as the nontarget stimuli. Study I showed a happy-superiority effect and a bias towards reporting happiness in female faces. As work progressed, questions arose regarding whether the emotional stimuli were equal with regard to perceived strength of emotion, and whether the neutral faces were perceived as neutral. To further investigate the effect of stimulus quality on the obtained findings, Study II was designed such that the facial stimuli were rated on scales of happy-sad, angry-friendly, and emotionality. Results showed that ‘neutral’ facial expressions were not rated as neutral, and that there was a greater perceived distance between happy and neutral faces than between angry and neutral faces. These results were used to adjust the detectability measures to compensate for the varying distances of the angry and happy stimuli from the neutral stimuli in the emotional space. The happy-superiority effect was weakened, while an angry-female disadvantage remained. However, as these results were based upon different participant groups for detection and emotional rating, Study III was designed to investigate whether the results from Studies I and II could be replicated in a design where the same participants performed both tasks. Again, the results showed the non-neutrality of ‘neutral’ expressions and that happiness was more easily detected than anger, as shown in general emotion as well as specific emotion detection. Taken together, the overall results of the present dissertation demonstrate a happy-superiority effect that was greater for female than male faces, that angry-female faces were the most difficult to detect, and a bias to report female faces as happy. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: In press. Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 3: Manuscript.

Published edition of Thesis (doctoral)--Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 270-285).

This thesis presents new theories and creative techniques for exploring ‘designing for home happiness'. Set in the context of a primarily unsustainable and unhappy world, home is understood as a facilitator of current lifestyle practices that could also support long-term happiness activities, shown to promote more sustainable behaviour. It has yet to be examined extensively from a happiness perspective and many homes lack opportunities for meaningful endeavours. Service Design, an approach that supports positive interactions, shows potential in facilitating ‘designing for home happiness' but its tools are generally employed for visualising new systems/services or issues within existing ones instead of exploring related subjectivity. Art therapy techniques, historically used for expressing felt experiences, present applicable methods for investigating such subjective moments and shaping design opportunities for home happiness but have yet to be trialled in a design research context. This thesis therefore explores how Art Therapy and Service Design can be used successfully for ‘designing for home happiness'. A first study proposes photo elicitation as a creative method to explore, with participants from UK family households, several significant home happiness needs. Subsequently, art therapy techniques are proposed in Study 2 through two bespoke Happy-Home Workshops. This gives way to the Home Happiness Theory and Designing for Home Happiness Theory, which enable designers to design for home happiness. The Designing for Home Happiness Framework emerges from these studies proposing a new design creative method delivered through a workshop with specialised design tools and accompanying process for creating home happiness designs (i.e. services, product-service-systems). Through two Main Studies the framework is tested and validated with design experts in two different contexts, Loughborough (UK) and Limerick (Ireland), confirming its suitability and transferability in ‘designing for home happiness'. Resulting concepts support collective home happiness and social innovations by facilitating appropriate social contexts for their development. Overall, this research is the first to combine art therapy techniques with service design methods, offering original theories and approaches for ‘designing for home happiness' within Service Design and for social innovation. Collectively, this research delivers new creative methods for service designers, social innovators and designers more generally to investigate and support happier experiences within and outside the home for a more sustainable future.

[pt] A pesquisa procurou investigar como professores do ensino médio de uma escola pública da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro percebem e reagem diante de comportamentos preconceituosos e discriminatórios entre os estudantes, e quais concepções de moralidade que, explícita ou implicitamente, fundamentam suas ações. A pesquisa buscou apresentar e discutir as concepções éticas subjacentes às práticas docentes, a partir de uma articulação entre os conceitos regulativos de justiça e felicidade presentes no pensamento ético kantiano e aristotélico, a partir das elaborações de Adela Cortina e Alasdair MacIntyre. Considerando que este dois conceitos são, geralmente, colocados em tensão de maneira excludente, apostamos na possibilidade de pensá-los como complementares, interconectados e tensionados mutuamente. Como procedimentos metodológicos, além de uma extensa revisão bibliográfica, foram realizadas observações de campo e entrevistas semiestruturadas com 17 docentes que se voluntariaram para a pesquisa. Dentre os achados da pesquisa merecem destaque que os tipos de preconceito e discriminação mais percebidos pelos professores se relacionam a orientação sexual e diferenças de raça e etnia, sendo percebidas em menor grau, discriminações em função da crença religiosa, de diferenças intelectuais, por aparência física e origem geográfica. No que se refere às ações e intervenções dos docentes diante dos comportamentos preconceituosos e discriminatórios, a grande maioria afirmou que faria intervenções firmes, seja repreendendo ou conversando com os envolvidos, no sentido de sinalizar que não concordam com essa postura.Entretanto merece preocupação o fato de alguns docentes não perceberem ou mesmo não tratarem com a devida importância atitudes preconceituosas e discriminatórias, demonstrando ignorar o nível de sofrimento a que estão expostos alguns estudantes. Em relação à articulação entre os conceitos regulativos de justiça e felicidade, bem como às concepções de moralidade que fundamentam as suas ações, devido talvez a limites da metodologia, não foi possível explicitá-los. Entretanto identificou-se que diante de situações que exigiam uma tomada de decisão, a justiça é priorizada em detrimento da felicidade. Por fim a pesquisa apontou ainda algumas limitações da formação docente para lidar com situações de preconceito e discriminação no espaço escolar. / [en] The purpose of this research is to investigate how high school teachers from a public school in the city of Rio de Janeiro perceive and react when they are faced with prejudice or discriminatory behavior among students. This research also intended to grasp which conceptions of morality serve as a basis for the teachers actions, either implicitly or explicitly. By using the connection between regulative conceptions of justice and happiness that are present in Kant and Aristotle s work, and considering that these concepts are usually seen in an excluding way, this research suggests the possibility of these concepts complementing each other ,as well as being mutually connected. As for the methodological choices, the research involved on extensive literature review along with fieldwork and semi- structured interviews with 17 teachers, who volunteered. One result of the research that is important to highlight is that the types of prejudice and discrimination that were most perceived by the teachers were related to sexual orientation, racial and ethnic diversity. On the other hand, the least noted were related to religion, cognitive difference, physical appearance and place of origin. Referring to the actions taken by these teachers while facing this discriminatory behavior, the majority mentioned that they would firmly oppose them, however the fieldwork showed that some teachers don t notice this behavior, or seem to ignore the suffering some students are exposed to. Maybe due to the limits of the chosen method, the research couldn t explicit the articulation between the concepts for justice and happiness, as well as their conceptions of morality. However, it was observed that when the teachers were faced with situations in which an urgent decision was required, they prioritized justice at the expense of happiness. Finally, the research pointed out that there are still limits in teaching education, training and formation with regard to the prejudice and discrimination that take place at school.

The motivation for subjective well-being research rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is becoming important to the roles of many governments across the globe and so identifying the strongest correlates of subjective well-being is vital as a starting point to informing policies that support subjective well-being. This thesis investigated the correlates of subjective well-being. Chapter 1 introduced the topic and has been divided into two parts: section 1 explores the motivation for subjective well-being research and section 2 presents the conceptual model of subjective well-being. Chapter 2 gave the rationale for the methodological approaches taken to investigate factors that are associated with subjective well-being. Also, the methods chapter presented limitations of the data used. Chapter 3 explored the determinants of subjective well-being in representative samples of nations; and the results obtained in chapter 3 led to three systematic reviews and meta-analyses (Chapter 4, 5 and 6). Chapter 4 conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between income inequality and subjective well-being to test the general assumption that people's subjective well-being can be increased by tackling income inequality and investigated inconsistencies of previous studies reporting a negative, positive or no association between income inequality and subjective well-being. Chapter 5 carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between health status and subjective well-being because the results of the empirical study conducted in chapter 3 suggest that health status is positively associated with subjective well-being. Chapter 6 conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between financial satisfaction and subjective well-being as the results of the empirical study conducted in chapter 3 suggest that financial satisfaction is positively associated with subjective well-being. Chapter 7 discussed the results, highlighted the need for further studies and policy directions and concluded. Taken altogether these studies suggest that: (1) subjective well-being is important to informing policies that support subjective well-being, (2) they might be circumstances where income inequality may not be associated with people's subjective well-being, (3) health status and financial satisfaction are positively associated with subjective well-being and the magnitude of the association is affected by key operational and methodological factors, (4) life satisfaction might be preferred to happiness as a measure of subjective well-being because it may better captures the influence of health status and financial satisfaction, (5) government policies that support subjective well-being measures should consider using self-reported health status and financial satisfaction amongst factors that are correlated with people's subjective well-being, (6) the association between health status and subjective well-being and the link between financial satisfaction and subjective well-being are medium and further research is required to identify other strongest correlates of subjective well-being.