The 4 Virtues of World Happiness

Addressing the “Nordic exceptionalism” and “cycles of virtue,” the 2020 World Happiness Report authors found a cluster of four recurring historical virtues of Nordic countries that are less consistent in less happy nations.

1. Cohesion

Psychologists Delhey and Dragolov have researched cohesion in 34 countries over 25 years. They explained that resilient social relations, positive emotional connectedness between people and the community, and a pronounced focus on the common good characterize cohesion. They found that citizens are happier and psychologically healthier when they are able to create togetherness and solidarity among themselves and that social cohesion promotes a happier life for everyone, whether affluent or not.

2. Equality

The authors asserted that in more equal societies, people trust each other more and that levels of social trust are remarkably stable over a relatively long historical period. This cultural value of equality extends to newcomers. The ten happiest countries consist of 17% foreign-born people, twice that of other countries. The happiest countries integrate immigrants into their communities, and both newcomers and longstanding citizens report improvements in financial status and high levels of well-being and social trust.

3. Quality Institutions

The Happiness Report suggested that social trust contributes to building better institutions. By the 16th century, local parish churches in the Nordic countries were inclusive, egalitarian, representative, and monetarily accountable. By the late 19th century, independent court systems able to handle corruption-related matters were prevalent. Nordic government institutions are also citizen-oriented and accountable.

4. Mass Education

The Nordic countries invested heavily in universal and free education for all citizens. Although the Nordic countries consistently score the highest happiness numbers, other countries regularly found at the top of international comparisons of life satisfaction – Switzerland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia – are characterized by the same four attributes. These include well-functioning democracy and high-quality democratic institutions, generous and effective provision for citizens in various adversities, low levels of crime and corruption, and social-economic equality in which citizens feel free and trust one another and governmental institutions.

Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!

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