The Science of Happiness: Definitions, Distinctions and Evidence-Based Pathways to Well-Being

This book provides a comprehensive overview to the science of happiness research. It discusses scholarly definitions and measurements, and factors—personal, social and cultural—that reliably increase happiness throughout the life-span. Anchored in psychology, philosophy, economics and public health, the book distils hundreds of peer-reviewed studies into one lucid, teachable framework. Part I traces the idea from classical eudaimonia to modern positive psychology, then untangles more than thirty related terms—well-being, flourishing, thriving, life satisfaction and others—into a working map of key distinctions. The discussion shows why happiness remains one of the most diversely interpreted phenomena in the social sciences and why no single definition yet commands unanimous agreement. Part II presents a multilevel map of determinants, starting with personality and health, then progressing to relationships, income, culture, and the built and natural environments.