Happiness and Culture

By Ed Shorer

Abstract

One of the main claims of many contemporary happiness theories is that if you want to be happy, you must invest in experiences, not in possessions. In my presentation, I use my own example to illustrate how experiences contribute to subjective wellbeing.

I travel to share my hobby, Slot Car Racing, with those in other places and to enjoy the fellowship of like-minded friends who share a common interest. In 2023 alone I traveled to Italy, Japan, and Mexico to enjoy the hobby that I began in 1963. Each of the three countries contributed to my happiness in a different way. Japan, where I had lived for six years in the late ’70s and early ’80s, helped me connect to my past and gave me a sense of belonging and continuity. It was especially important in my developing a sense of awe about the world, by learning a foreign language and seeing there are many different ways to live. Italy, with its demanding requirement to be present for a concentrated 24-hour race, challenged me in just the right way. I excelled while feeling engaged and competent (which is how Csikszentmihalyi describes flow). Mexico made it possible for me to share my expertise, and feel as a member of a community that shares my views and priorities.

In conclusion, my traveling experiences increased my happiness levels by giving me a sense of belonging and continuity, helping me experience flow, and making me feel as a part of an international community.

My talk was accompanied with illustrations in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. The core of my paper is being developed into a book-length project.