All Issue

2021 Vol.56, Issue 5

Research Article

Geographical Research on Happiness: Qualitative Approach to Happiness and Spatial Capability in the Case of Northern Europe

지리학적 행복 연구 - 행복과 공간적 역량에 관한 북유럽 사례 질적연구 -

HaeRan Shina*
,
Yerin Jinb
신 혜란a*
,
진 예린b
aDepartment of Geography, Institute for Korean Regional Studies, Institute for Gender Research, Institute for Peace and Unification Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
bM.A. Department of Geography, Seoul National University
a서울대학교 지리학과 교수, 서울대학교 국토문제연구소 겸무연구원, 서울대학교 여성학연구소 겸무연구원, 서울대학교 여성학 협동과정 겸무교수, 서울대학교 통일평화연구원 겸무연구원
b서울대학교 지리학과 석사과정 졸업
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2021. pp. 465-484
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

This study is a qualitative analysis of the happiness of people living in big cities in Northern Europe, which are regarded as models of happiness and welfare. In the field of geography, calls for research into happiness have been increasing in recent years. This research responds to those calls, using qualitative and processual approaches to view specific contexts of happiness in a study of the interaction between life experiences and individuals’ strategies. The theoretical framework of this study is constructed around ‘human capability,’ the freedom to choose a different kind or another way of life, and ‘spatial capability,’ the capability in the areas of residency and mobility. Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with younger adults in their 20s as well as adults in their 30s and older living in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, the results of this study are as follows. First, in answer to the question of their definition of happiness, the majority of interviewees equated satisfaction with the freedom of choice, putting an emphasis on choosing a rewarding job. Second, in discussions of their experiences of freedom of residence and mobilities, most interviewees expressed contentment with living in the capital city but admitted to having had to develop a residential space strategy for limited spatial capabilities due to high housing prices. Third, those interviewees tended to actively raise questions about the inequality they faced that they attributed to social structural causes. Fourth, interviewees cited involvement in associations and social activities with friends as playing an important part in their happiness. This study outlines the merits of discussing happiness in geography and suggests the consideration of happiness in policy related to spatial decisions.

Keywords
happiness
Northern Europe
capabilities
spatial capabilities
Norway
Denmark
qualitative research methods
residence
mobilities
freedom to choose
adaptive preferences

본 연구는 행복과 복지의 모범적 사례로 거론되는 북유럽 대도시 사람들의 행복에 관한 질적 분석이다. 근래 들어 지리학에서 행복 연구의 필요성이 높아지고, 행복을 정해진 상태가 아니라 구체적 맥락과 개인의 상호작용의 과정을 보는 질적연구의 필요성이 제시되고 있다. 본 연구는 그 요구에 답하여 노르웨이 오슬로와 덴마크 코펜하겐에 거주하는 20-30대 청년층과 60대 이상 노년층 피면담자들의 심층 구술 면담을 통해 행복한 경험과 불행한 경험, 문제상황에서의 대응 방식, 인생 경험을 통한 행복 전략을 알아보았다. 이 연구의 이론적 틀로서는 삶에서 선택할 수 있는 자유를 뜻하는 인간 역량을 행복의 중심으로 보는 역량 이론(capability theory)을 거주, 이동의 자유에 관한 개념으로 발전시킨 공간적 역량(spatial capability) 개념이 사용되었다. 반구조화된 심층면담을 통한 본 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 북유럽 피면담자들은 행복을 정의하는 것에 선택의 자유와 만족감을 주요어로 얘기했고, 특히 보람을 느끼는 직업을 선택하는 것에 큰 책임감과 의의를 두었다. 둘째, 거주, 이주의 자유에 관한 삶의 경험에서, 피면담자들은 수도 대도시에 사는 것에 만족했지만 높은 집값에 따른 부담으로 제한된 공간적 역량에 대해 거주공간 전략을 발전시켰다. 셋째, 피면담자들은 자신이 대면한 불평등에 적극적으로 문제 제기를 하는 편이었고 사회구조적 원인을 추적하기도 했다. 넷째, 심층면담에서 공통적으로 활발한 동호회 활동, 친한 지인과의 사교 관계는 대부분의 피면담자들에게 무척이나 중요한 삶의 요소였다. 본 연구는 삶의 경로에서 나타나는 행복의 구성 과정을 제시하여 인간과 환경의 상호 관계를 보는 지리학에서 행복 논의의 장점과 필요성을 제안하고 행복과 연관된 정책결정에서 공간적 고려를 할 것을 제안한다.

키워드
행복
북유럽
역량
공간적 역량
노르웨이
덴마크
질적연구 방법
거주
이동
선택의 자유
적응적 기호
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geographical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :대한지리학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :대한지리학회지
  • Volume : 56
  • No :5
  • Pages :465-484
  • Received Date : 2021-09-14
  • Revised Date : 2021-10-17
  • Accepted Date : 2021-10-19
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22776/kgs.2021.56.5.465
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