Happiness in the Roaring 20s

Happiness in the Roaring 20’s

Lauren Blue

Azusa Pacific University

Abstract

When people think about happiness, most often times they think of laughter, humor, joy, smiling, and over all good times. The 1920s would be considered by many people to be a happy decade because it was an overall good time for the majority of people living during that time. It was filled with new music, dancing, the invention of movies, the invention of cars, the radio, new worldly discoveries, and the introduction of wealth and fame through rising acting and singing stars. This was a time of great prosperity and advancement, creating a decade filled with joy and good feelings. High-class living emerged through the creation of new jobs and rising wealth for families. When analyzed from a positive psychological perspective, however, the happiness experienced by American people during this time may not have always consisted of what happiness truly really entails, or what contributes to a positive well-being. This paper will take a deeper look into the factors that named this decade “The Roaring Twenties” and determine how they contributed to true happiness in people’s lives and the happiness of Americans during this decade as a whole.

Happiness in the Roaring 20’s

The Jazz Age, the Age of Tolerance, the Age of Wonderful Nonsense; these are the some of the names used to describe one of the most rambunctious eras of optimism and prosperity- the 1920’s. When most people think of the 20’s, they think of flappers, lively music, the Charleston, black and white movies, speakeasies, and dance marathons. These are just a few highlights, however, of this colorful decade. After a disastrous war when most countries were struggling and hurting, the United States was able to experience an age of peace and prosperity (Wang and Gotterba, 2). Looking at this age, one may think that the 1920’s was a time of nothing but happiness. In most ways this statement is true, however, after...