Researching Happiness: Qualitative, Biographical and Critical Perspectives

Front Cover -- Researching Happiness: Qualitative, Biographical And Critical Perspectives -- Copyright Information -- Table Of Contents -- List Of Figures And Tables -- Notes On Authors -- 1 Introduction: Developing Qualitative Research Into Happiness And Wellbeing -- Sociology And Qualitative Research Into Happiness/ Wellbeing -- Some Issues To Consider When Conducting Qualitative Research Into Happiness/wellbeing -- Definitions Of Happiness/ Wellbeing In Qualitative Research -- 'social Happiness': Understanding Happiness As A Social Process -- Biographies, Subjectivities And Self- Identity Theories And Methods In Qualitative Happiness Research -- Notes -- References -- Part I Qualitative Research Into Happiness/wellbeing: Theories, Debates And Issues -- 2 Living Well Together: On Happiness, Social Goods And Genuinely Progressive Sociology -- Happiness, Social Qualities, And Moral Progress -- Happiness And Genuinely 'progressive' Sociology -- Social Qualities: More Than An Absence Of Pathology? -- Confirmatory Versus Disruptive Uses Of The 'happiness Lens' -- Happiness Research And Moral Progress -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References 3 Happiness As An Affective Practice: Self, Suffering And Biography -- Introduction -- The Need For A Reparative Reading Of Happiness -- The Project -- Searching For A Definition Of Happiness -- The Trouble With Happiness -- Happiness And Social Life -- Understanding Happiness As An Affective Practice -- Happiness, Reflection And Biography -- Emotions And Reflection -- Emotions, The Self And Biography -- Using Narrative Methods To Examine Experiences Of (un)happiness -- The Interview -- Analysis -- Edith -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References 4 Personal Happiness, Social Unhappiness: Understanding The Complexity Of Individual Happiness Accounts -- Introduction -- What Is Mass Observation? -- The Mass Observation Panel -- Using The Archive -- Personal Happiness, Social Unhappiness? -- Political Alienation And Dissatisfaction -- Unhappiness, Left And Right -- Social Critique: Selfishness And Moral Decline -- 'helpless' Concern? -- Moral Sentiments And Elevation -- The Defended Self? -- Conclusions: Implications For Happiness And Wellbeing Research -- Notes -- References Part Ii Qualitative Research Into Happiness/wellbeing: Communities, Biographies And Identities -- 5 Developing A Biographical Approach To Happiness And Wellbeing -- Introduction -- Reviewing The Literature: What Is Happiness And How To Study It? -- Theories And Methods For Researching Biographies Of Happiness/wellbeing -- Jill And Mary: Ageing And Happiness Across The Life Course -- Social Networks, Sociability And Wellbeing -- Biographies And Wellbeing: How Social Networks Evolve Over The Life Course To Influence Happiness -- Conclusions -- Notes -- References Edited By Mark Cieslik. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web.