INVESTIGATING HAPPINESS THROUGH A PSYCHOANALYTIC SOCIAL LENS: PERSPECTIVES FROM FILIPINO ADOLESCENTS

The paper examines subjective well-being among selected Filipino adolescents in the context of Horney’s Psychoanalytic Social Theory. Ten college students who were part of the larger population of individuals whose age ranges from 16 to 20 from a private collegiate institution in Metro Manila were selected and scheduled for an in-depth interview to express their immediate and past experiences in relation to happiness. The study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis which involved pertinent experiences of the participants in their joyous and positive states. After the transcription of participants’ responses, the researchers utilized macro thematic analysis and it was revealed academic achievements, happiness in God, satisfaction of psychosocial needs, material things satisfaction and feeling of isolation were the themes that are relevant to happiness. Upon further analysis, it was found out that satisfaction of neurotic needs for affection and approval, powerful partner, narrow limits to life, personal achievement and self-sufficiency and independence would lead to the realization of happiness. Implications of the findings to the intended populace and practicing psychologists were also discussed.