THE SOCIAL ENCODING MECHANISM OF WELL-BEING: A CATEGORICAL TRANSITION FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL INDICATORS TO CULTURAL DISCIPLINARY REGIMES

This study investigates the social encoding mechanisms of happiness, analyzing the paradigm shift from psychological metrics to cultural norms. Through historical tracing, it reveals how the concept of "happiness" has evolved—from ancient philosophical ethical ideals to modern psychological quantification, and ultimately to technical standardized measurements in global governance. The measurement mech, This paper critically examines the measurement systems of happiness, revealing how they not only reduce the diversity of individual emotions but also reinforce mechanisms of inequality and exclusion within social structures. The study further explores the institutionalization pathways of "happiness," introducing the concept of "happiness justice." It advocates for reconstructing the social significance of happiness through critical and pluralistic perspectives, while calling for breaking free from the limitations of existing measurement frameworks to drive reflective reconstruction of both the concept and measurement systems of happiness.