Society, Happiness and Wellbeing

2009-2010
Syllabus for Semester 1
Instructor:
Time:
Place:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:

Dr Dena Freeman
Tuesday 12.30-14.00
4516
Monday 15.00-16.00
dena.freeman@huji.ac.il

Course Description
In this course we will look at the relationship between happiness and wellbeing and the type of society that we live in. We will question what is a
good society and what do we really mean by well-being. We will explore
the burgeoning new Science of Happiness, with its contributions from
sociology, psychology, economics and neuroscience and consider how
insights from anthropology might deepen and enrich our understandings
of happiness. Throughout the course we will engage with questions
regarding the shared humanity of all people, and the yet the diversity of
cultural interpretation and experience. We will also consider how lessons
learnt from the study of happiness might be applied, both at a policy level
and at the individual level of self-help.
The course will be organised around six major themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Approaches to the Study of Happiness

Pleasure and the Senses
The Anthropology of Emotions
Cross-Cultural Approaches to the Self
The Search for Meaning.
Assessing Happiness and Applying Happiness Studies.

Class Format
Most classes will consist of a lecture, group work and discussions. Films
and film clips will be used frequently. Students will be required to read
one article or book chapter each week, before class, and use it as the
basis for the theoretical discussion. Most of these articles will be
ethnographic studies, giving detailed accounts from different parts of the
world. Through reading this material students will begin to build up a set
of cross-cultural perspectives and broaden their knowledge of
anthropological writing and theory.
Assessment
Final grades will be based on two written papers, one to be prepared at
the end of each semester (80%), and attendance (20%).

SEMESTER 1
THEME 1: APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF HAPPINESS
Week 1. A Short History of Ideas About Human Flourishing
Happiness and the 'good life' has been the subject of much philosophising
over the years and in different parts of the world. We will explore these
early approaches to human flourishing in order to provide a context to
explore the modern post-Enlightenment concept of happiness.
Required Reading:
Veenhoven, R. (2000) 'The Four Qualities of Life: Ordering Concepts and
Measures of the Good Life'. Journal of Happiness Studies vol 1 pp1-39
Further Reading:
Ryan R. & E. Deci (2001) 'On happiness and human potentials: A review
of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being'. Annual Reviews of
Psychlogy, 52, 141-166.
Feldman, F. (2004). Pleasure and the Good Life: Concerning the Nature,
Varieties and Plausibility of Hedonism. Oxford University Press. [Chap. 1:
The Quest for the Good Life].
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zghtAGIBd8MC&pg=PP1&dq=pleasur
e+and+the+good+life&ei=Xch6SvXtDpHyyAT46JnEDA#v=onepage&q=&f
=false
Week 2: The Loss of Happiness in Modernity: Social Science
Approaches
Classical social scientists, such as Durkheim, Weber and Freud, were all
concerned with the apparent loss of happiness in modern societies. We
explore their different understandings of the connection between social
structure and happiness.
Required Reading:
Izqueirdo, C. (2008) 'Well-Being among the Matsigenka of the Peruvian
Amazon: Health, Missons, Oil and 'Progress',' in Mathews, G. and
Izquierdo, C. (eds) Pursuits of Happiness: Wellbeing in Anthropological
Perspective. Berghahn
Further Reading:
Freud, S. (1903 ) Civilisation and its Discontents. Hogarth Press. BF 173
F84 U63
Durkheim, E. (1897 / 1952) 'Egoistic Suicide' in Suicide. Routledge.
Lasch, C. (1985) ' Consumption, Narcissism and Mass Culture' in The
Minimal Self: Psychic Survival in Troubled Times.

Week 3. Anthropology's Engagement with Happiness

Happiness and wellbeing have not been traditional topics of
anthropological enquiry. We consider why this might be and review some
of the small literature. What might an anthropology of happiness look
like?
Required Reading
Mathews, G. and Izquierdo, C. (2008) 'Anthropology, Happiness and WellBeing' in Mathews, G. and Izquierdo, C (eds) Pursuits of Happiness:
Wellbeing in Anthropological Perspective. Berghahn.
Further Reading
Thin, N. (2005) Happiness and the Sad Topics of Anthropology. WeD
Working Paper No. 10 (downloadable from
http://www.welldev.org.uk/research/workingpaperpdf/wed10.pdf )
Edgerton, R. (1992) Sick Societies. New York: MacMillan
Week 4: Happiness Studies: The New 'Science of Happiness'
In the past few years a whole new science of Happiness Studies has
developed, with inputs mainly from sociology, psychology and economics.
We briefly review this new field and consider how anthropology could
deepen it.
Required Reading:
Jankowiak, W. (2008) 'Well-Being: Cultural Pathology and Personal
Rejuvenation in a Chinese City, 1981-2005' in Mathews, G. and Izquierdo,
C. (eds) Pursuits of Happiness: Wellbeing in Anthropological Perspective.
Berghahn
Further Reading:
Ryan, R. & A. Sapp (2007) 'Basic Psychological Needs: A SelfDetermination Theory Perspective on the Promotion of Wellness across
Development and Cultures.' in Gough, I. & J. McGregor (Eds) Wellbeing in
Developing Countries: From Theory to Research. Cambridge University
Press
Schwatz, B. (2000) 'Self-Determination: The Tyranny of Freedom.' in
American Psychologist, volume 55, January pp 79-88.
Inglehart, Foa & Welzel (2007) 'Happiness Trends in 24 Countries 19462006' World Values Survey.
THEME 2: PLEASURE AND THE SENSES
Week 5: Hedonic Approaches to Happiness
We consider the sensual pleasures and their role in wellbeing. We consider
to what extent these experiences are shaped by culture and how their
importance in constructing wellbeing varies in different societies.

Required Reading:
Clark, S. (2008) 'Pleasure Experienced: Well-Being and the Japanese
Bath' in Mathews, G. and Izquierdo, C. (2008) Pursuits of Happiness:
Wellbeing in Anthropological Perspective. Berghahn
Further Reading:
Goody, J. (2002) 'The Anthropology of the Senses and Sensations'. La
Ricerca Folklorica, No. 45, Antropologia delle Sensazioni, pp. 17-28
Frederick, S. & G. Loewenstein. (1999) 'Hedonic Adaptation' in Kahneman,
Diener & Schwarz. (Eds) Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic
Psychology. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
THEME 3: THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF EMOTIONS
Week 6. The Neuroscience of Emotions
Neuroscientists investigate the neurological and chemical substrates of
emotion. As anthropologists of emotion we need to engage with these
positivist approaches to emotion in order to consider (in later classes)
where and how culture plays its part.
Required Reading:
Lysacht, K. (2005) 'Catholics, Protestants and Office Workers from the
Town: The Experience and Negotiation of Fear in Northern Ireland' in
Milton, K. and Svasek, M. (eds) Mixed Emotions: Anthropological Studies
of Feeling. Oxford: Berg. BF 531 M59
Further Reading:
LeDoux, J. & J. Armony. (1999) 'Can Neurobiology Tell Us Anything about
Human Feelings?' in Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz. (Eds) Well-Being: The
Foundations of Hedonic Psychology. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
Davidson, R. (2004) 'Well-being and affective style: neural substrates and
biobehavioural correlates'. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
(London). 359:1395-411 (downloadable from
http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs/2004/Wellbeing_affective_style.pdf)
Week 7. How Culture Influences How We Conceptualise, Talk
About and Experience Emotions
Many anthropologists have argued that emotions are socially constructed
rather than biologically determined. We explore how emotions are
conceived of, talked about and experienced in different cultures.
Required Reading:
Lutz, C. (1988) 'Morality, Domination and the Emotion of 'Justifiable
Anger' in Unnatural Emotions : Everyday Sentiments on a Micronesian
Atoll and Their Challenge to Western Theory. GN 671 C3 L87

Further Reading:
Heelas, P. (1986). 'Emotion Talk Across Cultures' in Harre, R. (ed) The
Social Construction of Emotions. Oxford: Blackwell. BF 531 S63
Lynch, O. (1990) 'The Social Construction of Emotion in India' in Divine
Passions: The Social Construction of Emotion in India. University of
California Press. GN 635 I4 D58. Also available at
http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft296nb18c&chunk.id=
d0e74&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e74&brand=eschol
Reddy, W. (1997) 'Against Constructionism: The Historical Ethnography of
Emotions'. Current Anthropology vol 38, 3 pp327-334
Week 8. Is 'Emotion' a Useful Analytic Category?
The English word 'emotion' is generally used in contradistinction to
'thought', such as 'feeling' and 'thinking' are seen as two distinct acts.
However many non-Western peoples make no such distinction and instead
have one concept of 'feeling-thinking'. Recent Western theorisation of the
emotions also gives important place to cognitive appraisal. Can, then,
emotion be a useful analytic category?
Required Reading:
Wikan, U. (1991) 'Towards an Experience-Near Anthropology'. Cultural
Anthropology, vol 6, 3, pp285-305.
Further Reading:
Mesquita and Frijda (1992) Cultural Variations in Emotions: A Review in
Psychological Bulletin, vol 112, No.2, pp 179-204.
Lazarus, R. (1993) 'From Psychological Stress to the Emotions: A History
of Changing Outlooks'. Annual Review of Psychology. Vol 44 pp1-21.
Lazarus, R. (1991) Stress and Emotion: A New Synthesis. Springer
Week 9: Emotional Management - How Can We Know the Emotions
of Others?
Diiferent societies have different rules about emotion management, about
which emotions may be expressed and which must be hidden, in particular
contexts and by specific groups of people. We look at some of these
different rules of emotion management and consider to what extent they
are cultural and to what extent ideological. We also consider how emotion
management rules affect our ability to read and understand the emotions
of others.
Required Reading:
Trawick, M. (1990) 'The Ideology of Love in a Tamil Family' in Divine
Passions: The Social Construction of Emotion in India. University of
California Press. GN 635 I4 D58. Also available at
http://www.escholarship.org/editions/view?docId=ft296nb18c&chunk.id=
d0e74&toc.depth=1&toc.id=d0e74&brand=eschol

Further Reading:
Wikan, U. (1989) 'Managing the Heart to Brighten Face and Soul:
Emotions in Balinese Morality and Health Care' in American Ethnologist
16: 294 - 312
Hochschild, A. (1983) The Managed Heart: Commercialisation of Human
Feeling. University of California Press. BF 531
Week 10: Ecstacy
What is the role of ecstasy in social life? How are such extreme positive
emotional experiences created, interpreted and managed in different
cultures.
Required Reading:
Lewis, I M. (1971) 'Towards a Sociology of Ecstacy' in Ecstatic Religion:
The Study of Shamanism and Spirit Posession. Routledge.
Further Reading:
Malinar, A. and Basum H. (2008) 'Ecstacy' in Corrigan, J (ed) The Oxford
Handbook of Religion and Emotion. Oxford University Press. Available at
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kkj3yBwED2IC&pg=PP1&dq=oxford+
handbook+of+religion+and+emotion&ei=BFF8SsCPDZKgygS4uYjEDA#v=
onepage&q=&f=false
Week 11. How Social Structure Influences Emotion: Individual and
Community
We consider the notion that social connections and relationships are
important for happiness. Does that mean that people are happier when
living in close-knit communities?
Required Reading:
Derne, S. (2008) Well-Being: Lessons from India' in Mathews, G. and
Izquierdo, C. Pursuits of Happiness: Wellbeing in Anthropological
Perspective. Berghahn
Further Reading:
Myers, D. (1999) 'Close Relationships and Quality of Life' in Kahneman,
Diener & Schwarz. (Eds) Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic
Psychology. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
Bellah, R. et al (1991) 'Individualism' in Habits of the Heart. Harper and
Row.
Veenhoven, R. (1999) 'Qualilty of Life in Individualistic Society.' in Social
Indicators Research 8/2 pp 157-186

Week 12. Inequality, Emotional Stress and Health

A range of studies suggest that hierarchical societies foster less happy,
less well and less healthy individuals. We explore a range of factors to
consider why this might be.
Required Reading:
Myers, F. (1988) The Logic and Meaning of Anger Among Pintupi
Aborgines in Man vol 23, no.4, pp 589-610.
Further Reading:
Layard, R. (2005) ' If You're So Rich Why Aren't You Happy?' in
Happiness: Lessons From a New Science. Penguin.
Wilkinson, R. (2005) 'Violence and Inequality: Status, Stigma and
Respect' in The impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies
Healthier. London: Routledge
Sapolsky, R. (1999) 'The Physiology and Pathophysiology of Unhappiness.'
in Kahneman, Diener & Schwarz. (Eds) Well-Being: The Foundations of
Hedonic Psychology. New York: Russell Sage Foundation
Week 13. Modes of Exchange and the Economy of Regard
How do forms of economic exchange affect human happiness? Does
capitalism make people more or less happy? How does our economy
influence how we think about ourselves?
Required Reading:
Carsten, J. (1989) 'Cooking Money: Gender and the Symbolic
Transformation of Means of Exchange in a Malay Fishing Village' in Parry,
J. & M. Bloch (eds) (1989) Money and the Morality of Exchange.
Cambridge University Press.
Further Reading:
Parry, J. & M. Bloch. (1989) 'Introduction: Money and the Morality of
Exchange' in Parry, J. & M. Bloch (eds) (1989) Money and the Morality of
Exchange. Cambridge University Press.
Sahlins, M. (1972) 'The Original Affluent Society.' in Sahlins, M. Stone Age
Economics. Chicago: Aldine Altherton
Offer, A. (1997) 'Between the Gift and the Market: The Economy of
Regard' in Economic History Review, vol 50, no3, pp 450-476.
Week 14. Capitalism, Social Relations and Experience
How does capitalism change our social relations, experience and
concomitant sense of well-being. We bring together the themes of the last
few classes. If possible, we will watch the film, 'The Navigators'.