Alex Gibbs

Professor Jizi
UWRT 1102
10 February 2016
Double Entry Journal
Citation: Parfitt, Matthew. Aversion to Happiness across Cultures: A Review of Where and Why
People Are Averse to Happiness. Pursuing Happiness: A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Boston:
Bedford Bks St Martin's, 2015. 267-79. Print.

Source: Quote (Page# or Paragraph #)

Responses

Happiness is one of the most important

values guiding individuals lives p. 267

This is can hold onto as being something that

I fully believe. I know personally its a huge
driving force in my life.

negative view about happiness, and are

sometimes averse to it. p. 268

I dont see how this can be true. How can

someone be against happiness?

Reasons for Aversion to Happiness across

Cultures p. 268

All of these reasons generally, in my opinion,

sound horribly depressing but I suppose if it is
due to cultural differences then I could
somewhat understand

bad things tend to happen to happy

people p 268

Thats awful

they worry that they will lose control of their

lives p 270

I guess if they live their lives striving for that

happiness and the decisions they make
surround that, then once they achieve this so
called happiness theyll have nothing to live
for and will have to change how they make
their decisions

being happy can make someone a worse

person p 271

I see what their getting at but I think it takes

more than just that

expressing happiness or outwardly

displaying success can arouse envy p
273

This makes a lot of sense.

in Russia anyone who is happy or

successful might have used immoral means
for achieving these states. p 273

Is this truly how Russians think of each other?

the desire for pleasure-based happiness is

nearly always centered on the self p 274

Well, yea because the pleasure is felt by the

self.

The paradox of Happiness p 275

Depending on the methods to achieve that

happiness, yes, I agree with this

these beliefs are more strongly endorsed in

non-western cultures... p 277

It seems to have something to do with

religious beliefs which also differ between
cultures

differences in levels due to cultural

reporting biases p 278

If different cultures have things against being

happy and outwardly showing it, then it would
affect this