Joy and happiness are both emotions where a person has feelings of contentment or satisfaction. But both these feelings may differ from each other based on the reasons causing the feeling and the nature of the feeling. J.D. Salinger, the author of Catcher in the Rye, once wrote, "The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid."
Comparison chart
 | Happiness | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Happiness is an emotion in which one experiences feelings ranging from contentment and satisfaction to bliss and intense pleasure. | Joy is a stronger, less common feeling than happiness. Witnessing or achieving selflessness to the point of personal sacrifice frequently triggers this emotion. Feeling spiritually connected to a god or to people. |
| Causes | earthly experiences, material objects | Spiritual experiences, caring for others, gratitude, thankfulness |
| Emotion | outward expression of elation | inward peace and contentment |
| Time frame | temporary, based on outward circumstances | lasting, based on inward circumstances |
| Example | In the midst of life's ups and downs happiness is still present. | Serving others, sometimes through sacrifice with no possible personal gain. Witnessing justice for the less fortunate. Feeling close to a god. |
| Analogy | Happiness is a state. Think of it as a 100 story building and each level corresponds to a happiness value. And that happiness will persist for quite a long time | Joy is that sudden burst of happiness. Joy is like the elevator in that building that takes you up to higher levels of happiness only for a small amount of time and back. |
| Life | Happiness can be experienced from any good activity, food or company. | Joy is a byproduct of a moral lifestyle. |
Differences in Meaning
Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes) jumping for joy.
Joy is
Happiness is
Causes
Happiness may be caused by luck, good fortune, or other person-centric pleasures. Joy is caused by elation at a moment in time. Joy may not always be about oneself but be about others' contentment also. Happiness is about the self's pleasure. Happiness may dwell on materialistic, worldly pleasure while joy is derived from soul satisfying, emotional well being. While happiness comes from outside things, joy is about inner self. To quote an example here: If one wins a lottery of $10,000, they would be very happy but if that person works hard and sets up his business and earns $10,000, he would feel joy. Though the ultimate benefit is the same, the cause being different makes the final emotion different.
In the following video, Harvard psychology professor Dan Gilbert talks about how happiness can be "synthesized," or created.
Differences in Timeframe
Happiness may be momentary and may not last for a long time. This is because happiness is caused by reasons that may not influence long term contentment. Joy, on the other hand is more related to the inner self and may last for a longer period of time. When one feels happy, then he's happy for sometime over that subject, but when one is overjoyed by something then that feeling lasts to content him for sometime. An example to clarify this can be: A person eats a good meal at a restaurant and likes it, he is happy about it. But he will forget about it later.
But when one makes that meal themselves for the first time and likes it, then it is joyous. This joyful feeling will be remembered by that person for a long time.
Emotion
Joy warms a person's heart while happiness merely pleases. This is also because of the difference in the reasons behind the two feelings. Happiness brings pleasure but Joy brings true contentment to one's heart.
Examples of happiness vs joy
Winning a lottery brings Happiness to a person. Giving birth to a child will bring joy to a person.
Antonyms of happiness and joy
One way to understand the difference between joy and happiness is to look at the opposites of the two feelings. The opposite of joy is fear while the opposite of happiness is unhappiness and misery.
Picture Gallery: Moments of Joy
Some moments capturing the simple joys and happiness that life has to offer.
References
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"Happiness vs Joy." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 15 Jun 2022. < >
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