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A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#41

Post by thewebguyd »

freedomben wrote: post #24
delichon wrote: post #20

I need some advice on etiquette. Is the correct answer to "Good morning!" still "That's what the government wants you to believe." or is it now "You want me to contract a psychiatric disorder? What did I ever do to you?"

I've always loved, "what's so morning about it?" What are other people's favorite humorous responses?

Always a fan of Gandalf's response to Bilbo:

> "What do you mean?" he said. "Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?"

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#42

Post by fwipsy »

bensyverson wrote: post #19

Ha, this is fun. But there's a kernel of truth to it. The problem with American culture specifically is that it treats "happiness" as a goal, rather than a fleeting feeling that is probably better described with a more specific word (joy, accomplishment, excitement, satisfaction, contentment). Our culture leans on this so hard that people start to think there's something wrong with them if they're not feeling general…

I suspect you would agree with this: https://theoatmeal.com/comics/unhappy

Even if feelings are temporary you can still have them more or less often. When somebody says they are happy, of course it does not mean they are experiencing bliss all the time; it means that the relative frequency of positive emotions is high and the relative frequency of negative emotions is low.

I think a lot of people assume it's not possible to be happy because their life circumstances are incompatible with it and they can't or won't change those circumstances. I think in the US at least, the things we want most and the things we strive for are not things that make us happy.

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#43

Post by throw0101d »

joshmarlow wrote: post #23
bensyverson wrote: post #19

Ha, this is fun. But there's a kernel of truth to it. The problem with American culture specifically is that it treats "happiness" as a goal, rather than a fleeting feeling that is probably better described with a more specific word (joy, accomplishment, excitement, satisfaction, contentment). Our culture leans on this so hard that people start to think there's something wrong with them if they're not feeling general…

A few years ago I read a claim that the word 'happy' is relatively young - ~500 years old - and that translations of others words into 'happy' are somewhat approximate. My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc). For most of human history, most people probabl…

> My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc).

All those four words combined is something like the concept of eudaimonia that Aristotle describes in his Nicomachean Ethics:

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flourishing

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#44

Post by joshmarlow »

throw0101d wrote: post #43
joshmarlow wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few years ago I read a claim that the word 'happy' is relatively young - ~500 years old - and that translations of others words into 'happy' are somewhat approximate. My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc). For most of human history, most people probabl…

> My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc). All those four words combined is something like the concept of eudaimonia that Aristotle describes in his Nicomachean Ethics : * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudaimonia * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flourishing

I've not read Aristotle directly but translating eudaimonia was an example in the book that I mentioned. The argument was that eudaimonia is often translated as happiness but that doesn't make sense in contexts where we talk about a soldier dying experiencing eudaimonia (suggesting a loose translation).

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#45

Post by joshmarlow »

dharmach wrote: post #28
joshmarlow wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few years ago I read a claim that the word 'happy' is relatively young - ~500 years old - and that translations of others words into 'happy' are somewhat approximate. My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc). For most of human history, most people probabl…

Just because the word 'happy' is relatively young in the English/European language, a conclusion can not be made for the whole Humankind.

Very true - which is why this piece "that translations of others words into 'happy' are somewhat approximate." would be very interesting if accurate.

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#46

Post by stevedonovan »

iberator wrote: post #33

Overall happinesses and motivation and belief are signs of too high level dopamine. Most business owner people have it. That's why they are often out of touch with random Joe. They belive in success even if math is saying that's bias. Form of pychosis

Hypomania is very irritating, and can actually mess up a person's life. It's a neurotic defense mechanism that's opposite to depression

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#47

Post by Aurornis »

bensyverson wrote: post #19

Ha, this is fun. But there's a kernel of truth to it. The problem with American culture specifically is that it treats "happiness" as a goal, rather than a fleeting feeling that is probably better described with a more specific word (joy, accomplishment, excitement, satisfaction, contentment). Our culture leans on this so hard that people start to think there's something wrong with them if they're not feeling general…

> Our culture leans on this so hard that people start to think there's something wrong with them if they're not feeling generalized happiness most of the time.

I don’t think this is true, unless you’re using ‘happiness’ to refer to euphoria or acute joy.

The happiness that is generally sought is more accurately described as a general lack of sadness or despair. Having a roof over your head, food on the table, a job to go to, decent health, and friends and family is what constitutes basic happiness. That is a good goal to work toward, in my opinion.

Re: A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder (1992)

#48

Post by NoMoreNicksLeft »

joshmarlow wrote: post #23
bensyverson wrote: post #19

Ha, this is fun. But there's a kernel of truth to it. The problem with American culture specifically is that it treats "happiness" as a goal, rather than a fleeting feeling that is probably better described with a more specific word (joy, accomplishment, excitement, satisfaction, contentment). Our culture leans on this so hard that people start to think there's something wrong with them if they're not feeling general…

A few years ago I read a claim that the word 'happy' is relatively young - ~500 years old - and that translations of others words into 'happy' are somewhat approximate. My takeaway is that (presuming the argument is correct) that much of human striving is probably better described with specific words (as you suggested - joy, accomplishment, fulfillment, excitement, etc). For most of human history, most people probabl…

Thanks for the book recommendation.
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