The aim of this thesis is to explore and understand how cultural, socio-economic, and political factors intersect to influence and affect societal happiness. We examine this by exploring the discrepancies that exist between the world’s happiest country, Finland, and the world’s 15th happiest nation, the United States. Through our explanation, we find that the cultural differences within nations is the implicit key to success in happiness. More specifically, the differences between femininity, experienced in the Nordic region, and masculinity, experienced in the United States. Social, economic, and political factors are in large part a result of the underlying culture. We see the nuanced ways in which cultural orientations shape social structures and policies which directly impact a society’s well-being. In analysis of the World Happiness Report, we acknowledge the multifaceted nature of happiness metrics, highlighting the importance of inclusive policy-making and responsive governance. Amidst its growing popularity the topic of societal happiness is growing in attention from both the public and policymakers. A collective pursuit of happiness emerges despite the cultural diversity prevalent throughout the world. By examining these complex relationships, we look to offer insight that helps create a deeper understanding of the complex relationship that exists between culture and societal happiness and well-being.

The aim of this thesis is to explore and understand how cultural, socio-economic, and political factors intersect to influence and affect societal happiness. We examine this by exploring the discrepancies that exist between the world’s happiest country, Finland, and the world’s 15th happiest nation, the United States. Through our explanation, we find that the cultural differences in nations is the implicit key to success in happiness. More specifically, the differences between femininity, experienced in the Nordic region, and masculinity, experienced in the United States. Social, economic, and political factors are in large part a result of the underlying culture. We see the nuanced ways in which cultural orientations shape social structures and policies which directly impact a society’s well-being. In analysis of the World Happiness Report, we acknowledge the multifaceted nature of happiness metrics, highlighting the importance of inclusive policy-making and responsive governance. Amidst its growing popularity the topic of societal happiness is growing in attention from both the public and policymakers. A collective pursuit of happiness emerges despite the cultural diversity prevalent throughout the world. By examining these complex relationships, we look to offer insight that helps create a deeper understanding of the complex relationship that exists between culture and societal happiness and well-being.

This paper provides an overview of the experiences of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the experiences of their immediate family members, the definition and practice of ableism, and how all three relate to the psychological well-being of these children and their families. Children on the spectrum have diverse lives and presentations just like the rest of us, but they often struggle with socioemotional functioning, sensory processing, and comorbid disorders. Parents with children with Autism also experience ups and downs like every other parent, but many take on unique parenting styles and strengths that few others can relate to. Through analysis of contemporary research and testimonies, this paper demonstrates that although individuals with ASD or other developmental disorders experience the world differently than individuals without disabilities, their diagnosis is not a problem that needs to be fixed: harmful behaviors and perceptions are. They are not doomed to a life of nothingness, and their parents and siblings are not doomed to a life of hardship.

This project explores how reckless capitalism has distorted the American Dream, causing a decline in the quality of life for the average citizen. It reflects on the current financial struggles, noting the reality that over 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, the high rate of childhood poverty, and the extreme wealth disparity exemplified by the fact the top three richest billionaires own more wealth than the bottom half of our population. The thesis critiques government alignment with corporate interests, influenced by modern corporations that project a facade of social and environmental responsibility. Drawing from Joel Bakan's insights in "The New Corporation: How 'Good' Corporations Are Bad for Society", it exposes these companies' selective advocacy for social and environmental issues, prioritized only when profit margins are unaffected. At the end of the day, these corporations aren’t acting out of the kindness of their heart, as having a socially responsible model yields economic benefits, reputation boosts, and marketing advantages.

This thesis explores the transformative impact of travel on personal growth, fulfillment, and happiness. Drawing inspiration from Eat, Pray, Love, the project explores the psychological aspects of finding purpose and meaning from any of our surroundings, investigating the modern travel trends towards immersive experiences, ranging from cultural travel, holistic travel, volunteer travel, and student travel. The aim for this thesis is to shed light on how diverse immersive experiences from all corners of the world can contribute to our overall sense of purpose.

Social anxiety is a growing problem for multiple demographics in our society. One such group of people dealing with social anxiety is the college student population, specifically honors students. College students have been struggling with the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused social anxiety to become more prominent than it has ever been before. Honors students have been hit especially hard with this, because expectations and requirements are held to higher standards than for traditional students. Having social anxiety does not have to halt life for students, however. There are many different paths that a person can take to manage their social anxiety and better their lives overall. From managing social anxiety on your own time, to using university resources, to exploring therapies and other available options, there are multiple avenues that a person can take depending on their situations and preferences. This project also includes a guidebook for the practical application of techniques researched in this paper.

This thesis reviews the literature surrounding imposter syndrome’s theoretical frameworks, proposed causes, and potential symptoms. It begins by explaining how the term “imposter syndrome” originated along with exploring various definitions with particular focus on its impact in the academic sphere. Next, different theoretical frameworks used to hypothesize the cause of imposter syndrome, including Albert Bandura’s Theory of Self-Efficacy, Carol Dweck’s Theory of Growth Mindset, and stereotype threat, are explored. When reviewing causal theories and factors, I focus on individual risk factors for imposter syndrome rather than how institutions factor into imposter syndrome. After theoretical frameworks are established, the link between imposter syndrome and general wellbeing is addressed. Lastly, there is a critical analysis of various treatment and prevention programs and I use this research to develop my own workshop aimed at helping students manage their imposter syndrome.

Victim advocacy is a free and confidential service provided to individuals who have experienced sexual violence. Due to the intense expectations associated with this role, victim advocates often suffer from mental health issues, including compassion fatigue. Compassion fatigue occurs when individuals in helping professions become overly exposed to clients’ traumatic experiences and suffer from debilitating symptoms that impact their daily lives. Through this project, I identified aspects of the role that put victim advocates at a high risk for developing compassion fatigue. I then explored methods for mitigating the negative effects of compassion fatigue including The Accelerated Recovery Program for compassion fatigue, humor as a coping technique, Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing therapy, comprehensive training efforts, personal and organizational self-care, and social support. With an emphasis on the benefits provided by social support, I developed a resource guide about the prevalence of violence in our community, aimed to help create more open dialogue surrounding sexual violence.