Op-Ed Contributors

Happiness will create harmony

By Wang Xinjian and Lu Xiaokang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-10-09 07:23

Chinese people need not only affluence, but also a real feeling of security and a greater sense of equality to be truly happy

Happiness is based on security. It is unimaginable that someone lacking a sense of security can enjoy a sustained happy experience. So, if we turn that around, a sense of security is perhaps an effective way to examine Chinese people's sense of happiness.

Francis L.K. Hsu, the noted anthropologist who wrote extensively on the interaction between Chinese and United States cultures, pointed out, in his research on cross-cultural communication, that everyone has two worlds, the inner world of his heart and the outside world.

Different cultural psychological temperaments control a nation's understanding and it's experiencing of happiness.

According to Hsu, going too far or falling short in either the inner world or outer world will cause a great sense of insecurity for Chinese people. But US citizens are egotistical, so they demonstrate their individuality through their conquering nature or pursuit of material wealth.

Social resentments against the rich and corrupt, and distributive equalization are both manifestations of an old Chinese saying "what matters is not wanting but unfairness", which is in line with the basic psychological characteristics of Chinese people.

When we conducted field research on a private enterprise in Anhui province, an enterprise owner told us frankly that he adhered strictly to the principles of "three hides": hide wisdom, hide personal influence and hide wealth. An old adage still functions today, demonstrating the stability and practicality of culture psychology.

Poverty cannot produce a sense of happiness, not only because of the hardships, but also because of society's coldness and discrimination against the poor.

But riches can't ensure happiness either, because wealthy people are supposed to shoulder more social and economic responsibilities. If they fail to fulfill their social obligations, as expected by the public, they will face increasing social pressure or even hatred. Robbing the rich to assist the poor was long regarded as moral behavior to realize social justice in China. This mentality still exists in modern Chinese society, generating insecurity for those better off.