The Psychological Wealth of Nations: Do Happy People Make a Happy Society? - Softcover

Oishi, Shigehiro

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1405192100 ISBN 13: 9781405192101

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012

Synopsis

The Psychological Wealth of Nations reviews the range of new scientific research related to individual and societal happiness.

• Presents a comprehensive review of happiness, from conceptual and measurement issues to an exploration of predictors and consequences of happiness
• Explores the psychology and economics of happiness and examines the correlations between societal wealth, productivity, and happiness in different countries
• Offers compelling insights into the ways individual happiness impacts the psychological wealth of overall society
• Features a highly interdisciplinary approach, with considerations of philosophy, sociology, economics, political sciences, as well as psychology

About this title

From the Back Cover:

What exactly does it mean to be happy? Can we measure it? If individuals are happy, does this necessarily make for a more content and healthy society? In answering these questions and others, The Psychological Wealth of Nations reviews the range of scientific research related to individual and societal happiness. The first half of the book examines individual happiness, beginning with conceptual and measurement issues such as defining and measuring psychological wealth and proceeding to an exploration of predictors and consequences of happiness―who is happy, what makes them so, and what are the benefits.

The second section offers compelling insights into the ways individual happiness impacts the psychological wealth of overall society. Drawing on the most up-to-date scholarship and research findings, the book concludes that while wealthy societies are indeed the happiest ones, it is not necessarily true that societal economic growth goes hand-in-hand with the greater happiness of individual citizens. It reveals that other non-economic factors―such as the availability of social support and social justice―are also important predictors of the psychological wealth of nations.

Rooted in new research and delving into important issues of contemporary society, this book offers illuminating and thought-provoking insights into the complex and intricate balance that must be struck to maximize both individual happiness and societal well-being.

About the Author:

Shigehiro Oishi is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. A personality and social psychologist, he is also an Associate Editor for Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

About this edition

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1405192100
• ISBN 13: 9781405192101
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 260