Naslov
Life goals and happiness: intercultural aspects

Autori
Rijavec, Majda

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Curent trends in psychology / Jerković, Ivan - Novi Sad, 2009, 16-18

ISBN
978-86-6065-025-4

Skup
Current trends in psychology

Mjesto i datum
Srbija, 23.10.2009. - 24.10.2009

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Plenarno

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
životni ciljevi; sreća
(life goals; happiness)

Sažetak
For many people the primary goal in life is to be happy. Yet research indicates that happiness is most often a by-product of participating in worthwhile projects and activities that do not have the attainment of happiness as their main aim. Many psychologists also see goal-striving as vital to the well-being and good life. Kasser and Ryan distinguish between intrinsic goals (such as those involving emotional intimacy, community service, and personal growth), whose contents are hypothesized to be naturally consistent with human nature and needs, and extrinsic goals (such as those involving financial success, physical attractiveness, and social fame/popularity), which are less consistent with positive human nature. Extrinsic goals are strongly shaped by culture, and typically involve obtaining symbols of social status and positive evaluation of other people. In contrast intrinsic goals are assumed to emerge from natural growth tendencies, in which individuals move towards expanded self-knowledge and deeper connections with others and the community. Research has shown that these two types of goals relate in different ways to personal well-being. The investment in, or success at intrinsic goals (those closely related to basic needs) is associated with enhanced well-being. On the other hand, investment in and/or success at extrinsic goals (those presumes to be unrelated to basic needs) does not enhance, and often detracts from, well-being. In the field of work it has been shown that people who consider their work as a calling have higher levels of well-being than those who view their work only as job or career. But, some research suggest that negative effects of extrinsic goals (mainly financial success) may apply only to affluent countries. These countries have come to construe financial success largely in terms of wealth and see financial success as providing necessary security. But in transitional European countries financial success means opportunity and possibilities of self-expression and self-growth. Also, financial success in poorer cultures is probably more likely to concern basic survival than in wealthier cultures, where financial success is more often a means to acquire status and non-essential pleasantries. We can not ignore the cultural impact since financial satisfaction is a stronger predictor of life satisfaction and subjective well-being in poor nations than in wealthier ones. In addition to that the meaning of happiness can be different in collectivistic cultures. In such countries personal well-being can be less important for individuals than well-being of the group they belong to.

Izvorni jezik
Hrvatski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA