Happiness Definition

It's one thing to find a simple happiness definition, but understanding and applying that definition can be much more difficult. In fact, researchers in the field suggest that happiness is really a very difficult word to define. To help you understand and use any definition of happiness, here are the views of three leading psychologists.

Firstly, Michael Fordyce asks a very fundamental question: is it possible to define happiness? He argues that very few of the people he has interviewed find it easy to give an answer. However, this acknowledged expert in happiness research suggests that happiness is

"... nothing more than an emotion. Psychologists define it as a longer-term sense of emotional well-being and contentment - a general "feeling" that one is happy."

This is a good starting point. It's a short, pithy happiness definition but what does it really mean? And how can we apply it even when we really understand it?

To help with these questions, let's consider the work of two other experts on happiness. Each indicates that understanding something as complex as happiness is only possible by detailed analysis.

This analysis leads us to think about happiness in terms of levels and elements.

Happiness Definition: Three Levels

In his book: "Happiness. The Science Behind Your Smile", John Nettle suggests that there are three levels to understanding happiness:

Level 1 is our momentary feeling, our sense of joy and pleasure.

Level 2 reflects our judgements about our feelings, relating to our sense of wellbeing and satisfaction.

Level 3 is associated with our quality of life, conveying the idea of flourishing and fulfilling one's potential.

Nettle argued that the more generally understood meaning of happiness relates to levels 1 and 2. This certainly further develops Fordyce's happiness definition. However it's perhaps in contrast to the work of eminent positive psychologist, Martin Seligman. In his landmark book: "Authentic Happiness", Seligman illustrated that happiness does indeed encompass all three of Nettle's levels. Critically however, he emphasised that Nettle's level 3 was really the most important. In doing so, Seligman's book does two things. Firstly it adds a third, authoritative dimension for anyone seeking to understand happiness. Secondly, it offers some practical suggestions for anyone seeking to find it.

Happiness Definition: Three Lives

Seligman's work supports Nettle's sense that happiness is an unwieldy term to define. This perhaps explains why Seligman also concluded that happiness is best understood by breaking it down. Not into levels, as Nettle did, but by considering three distinct routes to happiness.

Seligman described how "authentic" happiness can be achieved by combining and balancing three approaches to life:

The pleasant life: a life that successfully pursues positive emotions about the present, past, and future.

The good (or engaged) life: using our "signature strengths" to obtain abundant gratification (activities we like doing) in the main realms of our lives.

The meaningful life: using these signature strengths and virtues in the service of something much larger than ourselves.

Seligman's work indicates that combining and balancing these separate lives can lead us to authentic happiness - a full. life. In particular, Seligman stresses recent research showing that:

"the most satisfied people are those who orient their pursuits toward all three, with the greatest weight carried by engagement and meaning."

Follow this link to read more about Michael Fordyce's happiness definition and his excellent discussion of happiness.

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