To continue with my analysis, I found a model that explains human behaviour from an Islamic perspective. I attended a one day seminar conducted by Ustaz Hasrizal Abd Jamil in which he referred to the hadith of Jibrail in which the Prophet (SAW) was asked what is Iman, what is Islam and what is Ihsan. Ustaz Hasrizal explained that Iman is like the ingredients (i.e. the inputs), Islam are the religious acts necessary to develop good character (i.e. the process or the means) and Ihsan is the output (the end).
As the above table indicates, this religious picture is part of the picture. However, the 'secular' part is quite similar. The secular belief system is the 'memory' of all the good and bad experiences and how these experiences have been explained by the individual. In practice, the virtue of this model is that highlight that change can occur either by changing the belief system (for example, by learning more about Islam) or by improving the skills / tools so that the individual becomes more effective.
To appreciate the problem of learned unhappiness, it is necessary to have a model to understand human behaviour. In reading the Islamic literature, two models stand out. First, Fazrul Ismail proposed the PEIS model. This stands for physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. These are the 4 components that form part of a person's behaviour. Fazrul identifies two kinds of people. The Outside-In person is the one that is constantly reacting to outside stimuli. He / she is easily influenced by external factors many of which he / she does not control. Such persons have regular mood swings depending on whether stimuli (relationships, jobs, stock market,....) is going up or down. The Inside-Out person is the one whose inner spiritual core determines how he / she reacts to external stimuli. Typically, when things are going well, this person feels grateful. When things are not going well, this person is patient because he / she knows that after every difficult there is ease (Qur'an, chapter 94). The video below summarizes the inner strength of the Inside-Out person: he / she focuses on what God has given him / her, not on why other people have certain things that they don't have. The Inside-Out person is naturally resilient, optimistic and has hope.
Through my literature review, I have come to the conclusion that we know pretty much everything we need to know about happiness. We understand the theory and we know the practice of happiness. Yet, many people are not happy. Why? I found the clue in Nierenberg (1996) "Do it right the first time". He argues - and I agree - that most children have been raised in an environment of "blame and shame" (p.19). This is a recipe for what is known as "learned helplessness" (or to use a new expression, learned unhappiness).
The good thing is that we know how to help people who feel helpless...That is the exciting part and that is the breakthrough that I mentioned on the 12th October 2012.
I am teaching management and organizational behaviour at the International Islamic University Malaysia. Since 2010, I have been researching anything related to Happiness in Islam. This blog documents my reading, my hypotheses,s and the data I collected.
This blog documents the perception of Dr Fontaine's students related to developing happiness in Islam. Students need to complete two assignments in which they improve their knowledge of Islam. This increased knowledge seems to lead to greater happiness.
Any comments can be sent to me at: fontaine008@gmail.com
