Happiness, or subjective well-being is a universally cherished goal. Unfortunately, some nations as a whole do much better than others in the universal chase of happiness.

One of the two poles of this dimension is characterized by a perception that one can act as one pleases, spend money, and indulge in leisurely and fun-related activities with friends or alone. All this predicts relatively high happiness. At the opposite pole we find a perception that one’s actions are restrained by various social norms and prohibitions and a feeling that enjoyment of leisurely activities, spending, and other similar types of indulgence are somewhat wrong.

The definition that have been given to the 2 poles for this dimension are as follows:

Indulgence stands for a life tendency to allow relatively free gratification of basic and natural human desires related to enjoying and having fun.

Its opposite pole, Restraint, reflects a conviction that such gratification needs to be curbed and regulated by strict social norms