The correct answer is that we are still riding the highs of winning the Euro finals in football in 1992. I think we can still milk that win for another 40 years easily.
@@RobeTrotting Personally i´d have to quadruple that. For one, i´m half german(mom moved to denmark aged 17 in 1957), but more importantly, i was at our coach´s house two weeks after the final, painting `his` kitchen.. Tellin´ ye.. THAT was friggin´ awesome :) Much love, Caxi
A great way to analyze this concept. I would add that Danes are generally trusting in their fellow human beings, as well as the government (local, regional, state.. ). Denmark is also consistently the country with the lowest amount of corruption. People generally play by the rules. And the government proactively supports you..
The Work/Life Balance, that you have mentioned before, helps out on several levels of the Pyramid. When you talk about Esteem and you mention that all jobs are respectable, it is important to mention that all jobs also have a decent wage, and that is the clearest proof and source of esteem.
I love the way you analyze us Danes and compare us to Americans - I have a sister living in St. Louis, MO. She sometimes (even after 20 years living in the US) gets into "trouble" with her boo, friends and coworkers because of her "Danishness". So I started sending her your videos as a tool for her to get them to understand her better. Don't know if it has helped her yet - so stay tuned 😃
I love your videos!!! fun and informative! I am 46 and do not work with the thing I studiet to do, I work in a factory, The job is not the most exiting one in the world, but it pays the bills and i have amazing coworkers. I talked to one of the men working there about how interesting i think his job is and he just said, why dont you ask, them to let you study for this job too, they might hire you as an aprentice here, just go for it! I love that my age dose not make it impossible...! But the most importent thing is that I have to freedom to do what i love after work, lerning new skills and spending time with freinds and family. I am not rich, but i am happy.
When living in the US in the 90’es I realized that a major difference between Danes and Americans seemed to be what we base our identity/self on. For Americans prestige means a lot. What school you went to, which companies you have worked for, the title on your business card, annual income, the monetary value of your belongings, the city and/or the area you live in, the size of your house and the make of your car. This even extend to your family’s status including your children, almost from birth. How smart they are, how attractive they are (like pageants) and how accomplished they are. It’s very competitive. However, if you for some reason loose your status you kind of loose your identity as well. In general I believe Danes more base their identity on who they are as a person. Like how they treat others, their loyalty to friends and family, their attitude towards others including coworkers, their independence and individuality, their skills and personal achievements in life, like for instance overcoming difficulties. All attributes that are not firmly tied to your job or position in society. Losing your job or position thus is not really tied to shame and degradation because it doesn’t change who you are as a person, how you deal with the situation is far more important because it shows what you are actually made of. If you ask Danish parents what they want for their children when they grow up, most will say that it doesn’t really matter what job, income or partner they end up with as long as they are happy. Obviously it’s not that American parents don’t want their children to be happy as well but more what they think the path to happiness is, like being able to attend a good (preferably prestigious) school, college and grad school, getting a well paid job preferably at a prestigious or at least a well known and respected company/firm/business, a spouse with equal status, a high annual income and a big house in a good neighborhood. Basically living the American dream. That has got to put more pressure on kids to perform and become “successful” as they grow up, and they are probably more prone to experience feelings of failure and shame plus harboring a fear of failing in general. I think that also has something to do with how happy/content you are with your life as an adult.
This is THE best evaluation of "Danish happiness" I've seen. And I've seen quite a lot. There is one thing that isn't often mentioned when comparing happiness, and I think is an important "cocktail" factor. We Danes are traveling a lot, both rich and poor, young and old people, and experiencing different cultures, politics, etc. first-hand, and not only relying on what teachers/media told us and are telling us about the world outside our borders. In my view (too) many Americans' "understanding" of socialism or the "social democratic" way Scandinavian countries are based on, are not often based on facts, pro's and con's, but was/is meant to discourage anyone from thinking there is a better way of living than the American way. The way (too)many Americans react to any kind of changes, and even changes that could improve the life for a huge majority of them, like free education and free health care, isn't based on facts, not pro's and con's, but FEAR!! Because they've always been told, nobody in the world is as free as Americans are, and any kind of change will take their freedom away. That fear, combined with poverty, violence, corruption,, and many trapped in very bad relationships for financial reasons (and to keep health care, etc). and too many "stay at home moms" aren't educated and can't support themselves or their children as single parents). There are so many aspects of being fearful, and angry, as they know their lives aren't perfect, and they don't know how to change things, as they don't want changes either, and almost half of the Americans now want to "go back" and make their lives "great again" though the people not belonging to the richest percent, lived under worse conditions than now... Again not based on any kinds of facts! And this happening in a time where everyone of us has access to the internet and more knowledge than ever before...?? It's crazy! And not happening by chance, but choice! And fear combined with anger, and ignorance of facts, it's a VERY dangerous cocktail. I think many Danes are happy/content, because our education is more fact-based, and by traveling to many and very different cultures, we've seen different levels of worse first-hand. But still, we know there is room for improvements, and we've been taught to be critical to authorities, and view things from different perspectives, and our voices and opinions matter, no matter if you are rich or poor. And there are many and very different "the one and only best way to live", and it depends on each individual person to find his/hers "one and only best way to live"
A study showed that the term happiness had been confused with being content with your life. So danes aren't actually happy per say, but content with their lives, mostly thanks to the danish wellfare system.
A few years ago when I was learning Danish, I made a presentation about the World Happiness Report, which is based on a yearly Gallup Poll in 150+ countries, with around 3000 respondents per country and many questions (I am a market researcher 😊 ). Last year, the top drivers of happiness for Denmark were life evaluation (scored by respondents), social support, freedom and trust (as in no corruption) so your reflexion about Maslow’s pyramid is not that far! Reports are online and do not qualify as an easy read or as an elevator pitch... 200+ pages!!! Your analysis is more interesting 😊😊😊
My father was a Dane, born in 1905 and came to the US in 1929. He was a very pleasant and happy man. I don’t mean laughing and carrying on - just very content. He did not live in the Denmark that you are talking about but he had our small family and a few neighbors and work friends which were his life. He never said he wished that he had done this or that - he seemed content.
I think, there are several important factors.. Like Gender equality and a regulated labor market, strong unions and collective agreements negotiated by the social partners, thus, both, Women and Men can have fulfilling jobs and have decent, liveable salaries and be somewhat financially independent.
Another great video. Kudos. I really like how you guys put in a lot of thought into the videos you make, it is refreshing to see videos that is not just "how I feel" but go deeper and consider the "why" behind things.
You guys are so nice I almost miss my home country. I have stayed in Thailand for 8 years and I feel the people here have been so welcoming and supporting, that it's overwhelming. I wish the danes could treat you as awesome as I am being treated here. And the weather... You are surely helping me being a better expat, by turning the tables. Thanks a lot
Such an excellent contribution! USA has all these phantastic ideas - like Maslow's value hierarchy! This conceptualization explains a lot. For example why people actually aren't negative about the high taxes - we do know that we get a lot basic security and value from them in the Nordic countries, from basic security up to self-actualization. Everybody contributes, too - each time we buy something, we pay taxes. From bubble gums to plane tickets. We are dependent on eachother, and we take responsibility to protest if the tax-money is used against our values, because there are many political parties to represent us. But we are not personally dependent on only one or a few other individuals. It wasn't always so - we've had a very oppressive patriarchal rule, too, but struggled to get rid of it, generation by generation. And we are not ready, yet. Thank you so much for food for thought!
Great analysis guys! Tbh I think that some of the younger people here in DK take many of these things for granted. Including myself when I was that age. I think they could learn a lot from watching videos like this, where things get put into perspective 🙏
the Psychological needs (love and belonging) you hit it quite well, also why we sometimes really do not thrive in America, we feel like every friendship in America is superficial, since it is EASY to come by, and you have never built the fundamental needs of trust.. "speed of trust" is maybe a "company" term.. but you REALLY need to built it, for it to be REAL, and that is also why in Denmark, conversations between friends are MUCH deeper, and they support eachother with real heavy problems, and thoughts. I don´t think that EXCLUDES foreigners to get close, but it just demands that they respect that it is not a 10 minute deal to get friendship, it is an investment, without real payout for a while.
Måske bare en anden måde at sige at danskernes forventninger er få og små. Så kan man jo kun blive glædeligt overrasket. Min private teori er at danskerne er dem, som er kommet længst i menneskelig og human udvikling, og at den udvikling (ifølge min teori) fremmer glæde ved tilværelsen.
Many people outside Denmark mistake being content with happiness. I would say Danes are maybe more content than people in other countries and that its then translated to some form of mistaken happiness.
Really good insight, it's being happy with the simple things that matter the most and not trying to compare and keep up with others - Danes are great at zeroing in on what matters.
@@RobeTrotting The part about comparing and keeping up with others, you have touched upon before in your videos, the one about Danish homes and how it can be hard getting invited into Danish homes when you first learn to know people. And when you speak about how danes dont brag or show off as much as they maybe do in USA. I think its all part of our "happiness" that we are mostly content with our lives. I wish i had knowledge of more fancy words to describe it in english.
This was such an interesting way to dissect happiness. Often you think happiness as happy-go-lucky, big smiles and large living... Anything but the black, white and grey sphere we surround us self with. If you walk through a danish mall or on the street, the people around you doesn't exactly scream "Happiness". But when you look at it through the Maslow glasses, you'll notice what really matters if you want to feel happy.
Thank you so much! We wanted to cover this for a while now and every time we sat down together to outline our thoughts, we described things just as you did - people aren’t running around overjoyed, they’re focused on what matters and have the ability to do that because of the superior social welfare and equality in Danish society.
Interesting and good video, thank you very much, guys👍 As you say, I believe the majority of Danish people are cool with anybody as long as they don't harm other people (or animals) Personally, I think that people should be free to choose the way of life they want to live (as long as they don't harm others) Different races, religions, sexuality, beliefs, etc. Why would that bother me? It's not interfering with my life in any way, so just let people live the way they want to Love, respect and best wishes from Hillerød
Thank you for this video 🙂 It's a good analysis of people's needs and the connection to the country you live in. May be home is where you feel good after all...
This was not mentioned but another big reason that the majority of Danes are happy is because they are not slaves to religion nor religious dogma. In fact, Denmark is one of the worlds most irreligious countries in the world. This stands is in stark contrast to America which is one of the most religious western countries in the world - especially because they turned religion into a business. This is cause for a lot of depression among Americans because religion provides a false view of the world and many are locked into religious partnerships and expected to act in certain ways which eventually results in unhappiness.
Just for fun let me mention that in my Danish school in 1959-1960 we were taught about the "Maslow's pyramide" already :-) ... fun - now that I'm 76 years old a lot of this still sits in me :-) - thanks for this nice initiative :-)
Thank you Jens! So glad you enjoyed it. It’s funny because we were discussing this topic and thought of just going through all the normal reasons for happiness that are floated out there and we just felt like the main reason was that needs are met across the country at every level and that’s what allows for happiness, kind of like Maslow… 💡 and then we just couldn’t turn back
Having really enjoyed watching your videos for some time and hearing you touch on this subject a few times makes me want to ask if you yourself feel more sense of happiness living in Denmark than USA? 😊
Great way to make Denmark visual 👁 As a Social Pædagog, Maslow has always been a solid go-to, when you need to make any concept understandable without mudding the waters, too much! 😉🤣 Sooo.....individuality? does that mean some dyed hair or a tattoo, in the future? 🤣 Thanks guys 👍 hello from Hundested 🌸 🌱
Just LOVED this video. 🌹🌹🌹 I felt you both Are satisfied here in DK. 🇩🇰 IT is a Nice country that's why I love to Pay taxes 🇩🇰 I'm really happy for you and Your danish life 💞
So glad you enjoyed the video, we do love living in Denmark and it fits us really well (at least we think so). Super happy to be in such a great country and living our Danish life 😀🇩🇰
Great video as always where you are straight on point. I personally feel the concept of happiness is overrated, which is why Maslow's pyramid is the perfect measure for motivation in life
Hey guys i seen a couple of the videos you made and its funny and good info keep it up I have to say the intro was fun you got a new sub should have done some videos ago but im here now 👍😁
My dad works for an American company and has co-workers around the world. He once once compared American and Danish work culture and compared Danish work culture to hippies.
Also, I think it should be mentioned, America has one of the worst work-life balances in the world. The whole system is rigged for maximum exploitation of the worker. This is not the way in Denmark, nor should it ever become so.
That’s so great Ole! Derek here (important to note haha), my parents split when I was 17 and my sibling were younger. They never really come together for anything and they had a really bad relationship in the years after they split. It’s really nice that you can keep things civil and still gather, especially if you have kids involved 😃
We want to plan a trip to Aarhus in the new year. We have had it high on the list and just ran out of 2021 weekends. Can’t wait to see the city though 🤩🇩🇰
That is a pretty good analysis. Yes, people seem pretty content in the Nordic countries. And I think that there may be a good reason why Danes do not make friends so easily in public - it is so cold for a large part of the year, so that people stay indoors with their friends and family. In the southern Europe there is a culture of walking in the streets, sitting down at a coffee shop etc. That is a pretty new thing in DK. :)
Marianne - no, the bulk of us love to be outside i ALL weather . Come on, Marianne, what's is your problem. A I have walked outside for 4-6 hours almot daily. So healthy - Why don't you?
It's human nature, but they make it REALLY hard for you to do so - there's very little (almost zero) corruption in government - things are super vetted and conflicts of interest are removed in every possible way. As far as -- say people who are on the Danish version of disability (it's very common to "go out on stress" for example) they get a case manager and sometimes daily calls to make sure the treatment plan is being followed "did you attend you appointment this week?" "can you return to work for two and a half days per week? what about working from home one day a week and going in two days a week?". It's a much more generous safety net, but people mostly use it as such and there are accountability measure to ensure abuse is limited - even random checks at the airport to see if you are on unemployment and traveling (you CAN travel, but you don't get paid for those days and you report them to your case manager). There are a lot of checks to keep people honest and therefore people are happy to support each other when they need it (instead of having community fundraisers and GoFundMe campaigns and stuff - if you need it, the services are just there for you).
@@RobeTrotting i love that system, thank you for the details! Maybe it seems to some as strict - the constant checking - but i am looking it the way you do, too, as helpful and caring (it takes a village etc - and not just for children). Just three days ago (that is how i found your channel) i started learning danish LOL. Yes, i saw your advise not to do that before visiting, but it cannot hurt ;) . Looking forward to check your other videos and your future ones. Take care!
I do not know what you do behind the scene, to make videos like this, not that it matters, but what you do is really working. Great job. The flow is so cool it all feels very natural and organic, I really love it. I think one of the things you do right is, a real cool scientific way, of showing your findings, it really captivates, at least me hehe. By scientific I more or less just mean, emotion free way of explaining it, so it does not rely on whether or not people like it, nor is it an opinion as such. It is more of a preference, making a true choice, from close to complete comprehension, rather then an emotional choice, from how things feel around something. I hope that makes sense 😂. As I think is the best way to make ones life, make being a very well chosen word here, rather then choose one life, because it is obvious one can make roads where none seem to be hihihi 😂😂😂😂😂😂😉😎🙏. Keep up the good work.
@@RobeTrotting Too many words, sorry.. Once we hit double digits, the time where we don't feel like it sounds foreign ourselves is already passed, the gifted linguists aside. Barby (GeographyNow) has a workable technique but making funny sounds that are quite alien to our own language, isn't something that's as easy to freely allow ourselves to do once "society" has had hold of us lol. Once we care about how we run and 'what people think', we're already on the backfoot for new language - you guys are doing yourselves bloody proud. It took me years to get it back and I grew up here. English is easier for Danes because although it has more words, they're basically made up of less complicated phonetics. Kinda like driving an automatic when ya learnt and normally use a stick. Danglish accents aside.. Have a great weekend fellas
Haha good eye. We went for jerseys during the Euro and there was nothing authentic so we went to a souvenir shop - aka they pressed “DANMARK” onto the back and stitched a Dannebrog on the other side 😂
I think its important to know that nothing is free, not even in Denmark ;D We´re lucky to have all the possibilities and choices, but you still need to put in an effort. Especially when it comes to socializing, friendships and family.. We have a lot of freedom to "Do things our own way", but if your not being nice and social to your surroundings, you´ll end up just like "the lonely guy in New York" ;)
would love to see your thoughts on a YT vid called 'Living Danishly: inspiring ideas from the world's happiest country' from the channel 'Action for Happiness' where she talks about the triangle u show in this vid at around the 46min mark... it says from buttom to top Physiological Needs: Breathing, Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing, Sleep Safety and Security: Health, Employment, Property, Family and Social Stability Love and Belonging: Friendship, Family, Intimacy, Sense of Connection Self-esteem: Confidence, Achievement, Respect of Others Self-actualization: Morality, Creativity, Spontaneity, Acceptance and she talks about a few other things that u didnt talk about in this vid...
Hey Guys I like your videos :) (I'm sorry for all my misspellings) I'm a teacher here in Denmark, and I just wanted join the conversation about the family being important in the danish society. You can actually still see it in how we arrange students in our school system. We often have a class where the students are together from the age of 5 until they are15 (more or less). There is a Class teacher, often the math and/or the danish teacher who talks to the students about different social subjects like, how are we good friends, is everyone included, where do we go on our next class trip and other stuff. One could argue that this structure mimics a, heteronormative, family with a mom, a dad and 27 kids. Until like 20 years ago, I believe, you would have the same class teacher throughout school. But that changed so you now have 2-3 different class teachers in your school period. I hope it makes sense :D
Thank you for adding this - it’s such a great point and extends beyond this video to so many other topics we have discussed on our channel like how to socialize and make friends with Danish people and some of the challenges (and misunderstandings) that come with connecting to locals. Those friend circles are tight and certainly due to the classroom/schooling structures you described. We would love to cover the schooling topic in a future video. If you’d be up for a short chat about that to help us along more, please shoot us an email or DM. We would love some expert input 😊🇩🇰
I agree with many here saying welfare system is good so people worry less and contentment rather than happiness is more the case. Plus Prozac or antidepressant use is easily available
I am sure that people in Denmark are very happy, and I think your lists of positive things about life in Denmark are accurate. But I have reservations about Maslow’s hierarchy. In the 1960s Maslow’s hierarchy was popular amongst industrial psychologists and personnel managers in South Africa, a country divided by race and wealth. The managers reasoned that black workers were driven by physiological or safety needs, but that white managers were up at esteem and self-actualisation needs. So workers got offered pay packets to cover housing and perhaps a company hospital and other basic necessities, but managers not only had huge pay packets but were offered holidays in game reserves and bursaries for their children and jobs for wives, etc. The trouble with this kind of thinking, based on Maslow, is that it suggests that a poor hungry person lacks the imagination to appreciate holidays in game reserves or being able to keep a trophy wife who can choose to work or stay at home. To me it is clear that being hungry or living on the street in no way limits a human being’s imagination, so any personnel decisions based on the theory are going to cause resentment and resistance. I think happiness is only partly based on material things. Yes it is hard to be happy and hungry, but most happiness comes from relationships and activities that absorb one’s thoughts and emotions. Anyway.
@@steenjacobsen1474 But you can certainly understand what the managers are getting (for you don’t lack imagination) and your resentment will be all the greater.
Don't underestimate the brokke-factor in Denmark, I'm not sure if there is an equivalent to it in America, or other pleases, but the ability to be able to shed the things that would otherwise keep boiling under the surface, until they blow up, is also a big part of dansh culture. At least that's one of my big theories about being happy in Denmark.
@Julie Kjærgaard Jacobsen This, I hear, is also source of consternation when we interact with foreigners. The directness of Danish conversation can be a tough swallow. Of course, I personally can't attest to it, but I think our lovely hosts have mentioned it a couple of times. (edit: me being Danish and all)
I have lots of fun shocking my friend group, by being direct. The are a bit younger than me, and aren't used to "my brand" of directness :) "I kid, only with love". I like being very direct... also for the fun factor, but I would never intentionally hurt with what I say, and I will always explain if asked. I will also always have (some sort) of reason behind what I'm saying. Also, only with my close(r) friends..
Have heard the entire thing spiel of being a trashman or plumber being looked down upon. But it's frankly sth where people tend to go "Oh, who else is going to take care of your shit and trash? Someone does have to do it!" Which is again something that is just really powerful.
The world is generally misserable, the nordics are just the least, due to circomstances you guys have mentioned. It's not like people are fearing external prospects like many places in the world. With that being said, don't go around thinking it's like a happy paradise where everyone are joyous. Humanity have not yet gone beyond the self created suffering, an aspect of us that not even a nice living situation will take you beyond. We all know this from the rich and famous, they'll tell you all the money in the world won't make you happy. The noumerous icons who died from drugs etc.. Money definitly makes life bearable compared to not having anything, but never think it will fulfill you.
👍 Great video. Yes Danes are free, from worries and free to be who and what they want. The state is here to service the people, not the other way around, which is how it should be 😊. Danmark and the other Scandinavian countries maybe the most liberal places in the world. But the Danes can and will be brutal and harsh on those who do not follow the general idiology. For eksempel, if you're a corrupt govorment person or if you think you have more rights then anybody else, for eksample if you drive your car like you own the streets, danes hates that. The thing here is that noone is better the the next guy, no one owns anybody and you don't have to scrape and bow to anybody for money or any other reason. Respect the law and other people around you, and consider them and be mindful of them aswell. Most people do this in DK and thats one of the keys to happiness 🙂 the population here is also not too diversified, which otherwise could challenge a common mindset of the Danes (it already does alittle)
I think the word "most content" or "least unhappy" is a more fitting way to describe Danes than "happy". Or what would you say, Derek and Mike? Do you see Danes as being happy? Do Danes smile more than what you generally experience in the States? Are we very positive, smiling, happy?
@@metamon2704 I'm not misunderstanding anything :) I know how the "happiest countries" list is generated. My comment was just as much meant to explain to others viewers that Danes are more "content" than "happy". I'm just curious how Derek and Mike experience Danes in regards to the "smiling happy" aspect. :)
I don't consider us more 'happy' than so many other people. Personally, I think the term 'content' covers so much better. I would say that the fact that you don't have to worry about how to pay for education and health care is a very big part of it.
the most common jobs that american's look down on, and also have very low salary, like the garbage Truck workers or in the fastfood industry. It's really the opposite here in Denmark, they're highly valued and get a good pay, specially the garbage truck workers gets a high salary, i just think we care more for people, and also jobs. i have been a cleaner,a house builder, and now a warehouse worker"Føtex". and i wouldn't change that for anything. if people enjoy what they do, they shouldn't be feeling ashamed of it. and i get that expression on the American way of thinking, i've seen many video's about it and also by people i know over there, it's kinda sad if you think bout it
It’s really sad, you are very correct to point that out. It’s wonderful how much Danes value and support every type of work and every worker who contributes. I wish America was more like that, because it really makes a difference and when you value money over happiness - or devalue workers that you deem less valuable, society is diminished.
Hej Derek og Mike. Vi danskere har kæmpet for den glæde og lykke vi har idag. Det kan vi takke fagforeninger for og den arbejdskamp der har været gennem tiden. Ellers ville Danmark se anderledes ud i dag. Det er jo ikke noget som er faldet ned fra himlen, som Dannebrog. Det har været en hård kamp at nå til det vi har idag. Hilsen Charlotte
"Why are Danes so Happy?" Apparently because they meet the demands of some American happiness pyramid model from the 1940s and 50s. Come on, guys! You've been living in Denmark long enough now to know better. If you really like rhetorical, Rosenthalian questions, surely a better one would be: "Why are Danes so miserable?" I'd love to see you make a video on that, starting with a critical analysis of the statistic material that propagates the happiness claim.
An unfortunate factor that might contribute, particularly to the upper converging need, is the high consumption of antidepressants... Generally it seems to be an issue for many Nordic and western countries and is not necessarily a single reason, but seems to be an unfortunate factor
The truth is that we are happy based on "other countries". People often ask me when i state we are not a happy people "What, you think USA is better?" "Would you rather live in China?" And that's the same flaw of the analysis you guys do. You compare, to a model or in other places. But is "happy" happy because other places are worse? Wouldn't that analysis just make us less sad/depressed/frustrated? Having needs met is just a small part of being happy. Do we trust our government more than other places? Do we educate more people? Do we take care of our weak and homeless better? Do we have a system that prevents mentally ill from falling thru the cracks? We are just a smaller country, but we have not gotten a happy people. We might have less that complaint, but if you dare 😅then find ANY working Dane, and ask them about our taxes. Or find ANY chronically sick Dane, and ask them about our healthcare. The issue is that the working class is asked if they are happy with the healthcare which they rarely use And the chronically sick are asked about taxes which don't affect them Then it's not hard to say people are happy
I had a leadership position in the unionist movement, requiring a lot of judicial and political fork. I also had fire engibe red hair, with a long mohawk, my face full of piercings amd leopard print glasses... Because it was about my abilities and crudentiels. I will say though, that there are still a garde of old fashioned conservatives who'd never hire people like me but thankfully I could choose otherwise - I still have all the facial puercings btw. I'll be 41 in a couple of months and I'm a mother of a small child - again, it's about being who I am, not the piercings. As someone who lived in the states I think you hit the nail on the head by mentioning what financiel safety and stability means to the overall safety. American's seem to be VERY aware of crime, gunlaws f.ex.reflect this a lot. "The world is dangerous" as friends would point out... and that was in the early 2000's when Seattle was still a good place to live (I know it has now become very sad and difficult). The world WILL be ub-safe when large parts of society is cut off from decent jobs and wages, can not afford anything from feeding their kids, to healthcare or a 401K . Social and financiel insecurity breeds crime. It is evident in many a sociological study, across the globe... and U'm still baffled sometimes tht American's seem oblivious tp it. Ooon thw other hnd... when schooling can be anytjing from 2+2 in a cabin in the Apalachiens to Ivy-leagues for the richest, maybe the knowledge and reflection is not fair to expect. I met many an American who NEVER heard news, saw documentaries or read about the world outside of America... pretty shocking, to be honest. In order to convay more insight into the sociadel structures here, for qurious forrigners and future ex-pats alike, I'd suggest you do a video on the flexicurity system (A-kasse, dagpenge, "hiring and fireing) as-well as thibgs such as "almene boliger" and docial security concepts such as shielded work (beskyttet arbejde) or flex work (fleksjob) for people with chronic disease or disability. As flawed as they may have become, they are still very very unique and adds to the sence of security for many people. Trying to explain to Americans what it is and how it's possible with the average Dane in a 37-40% tax bracket is dsmned near impossible!
Hi guys, This covers more of your videos: My problem with USA is 'The front', the false, the make-believe. The 'American Dream' is total nonsense. If you want to experience the 'American Dream', then Denmark is the best place. Everybody has the opportunity to get an education for free, up to, and included a PhD. You want to start a new business: Ask 'SKAT' for a 'cvr number' and off you go. regards to the both of you JD PS: Think about why I call my self John Due :-)
The correct answer is that we are still riding the highs of winning the Euro finals in football in 1992. I think we can still milk that win for another 40 years easily.
Hahaha and it counts double since you beat the Germans
@@RobeTrotting Personally i´d have to quadruple that. For one, i´m half german(mom moved to denmark aged 17 in 1957), but more importantly, i was at our coach´s house two weeks after the final, painting `his` kitchen.. Tellin´ ye.. THAT was friggin´ awesome :)
Much love, Caxi
Hahaha good answer
Tru shit
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
My mom is 54 and she just started a new education. I'm so proud of her
As a danish person living abroad i would say our high level on trust in people around us rank high in the reason why we are "happy".
Ah, very true. Trust is such an important factor in happiness and Danish society at large :)
A great way to analyze this concept.
I would add that Danes are generally trusting in their fellow human beings, as well as the government (local, regional, state.. ). Denmark is also consistently the country with the lowest amount of corruption. People generally play by the rules. And the government proactively supports you..
Agreed, dunno why this is never mentioned when this subject is brought up.
The Work/Life Balance, that you have mentioned before, helps out on several levels of the Pyramid. When you talk about Esteem and you mention that all jobs are respectable, it is important to mention that all jobs also have a decent wage, and that is the clearest proof and source of esteem.
Exactly! It’s all connected 😃🇩🇰
I love the way you analyze us Danes and compare us to Americans - I have a sister living in St. Louis, MO. She sometimes (even after 20 years living in the US) gets into "trouble" with her boo, friends and coworkers because of her "Danishness". So I started sending her your videos as a tool for her to get them to understand her better.
Don't know if it has helped her yet - so stay tuned 😃
I love your videos!!! fun and informative!
I am 46 and do not work with the thing I studiet to do, I work in a factory, The job is not the most exiting one in the world, but it pays the bills and i have amazing coworkers. I talked to one of the men working there about how interesting i think his job is and he just said, why dont you ask, them to let you study for this job too, they might hire you as an aprentice here, just go for it! I love that my age dose not make it impossible...!
But the most importent thing is that I have to freedom to do what i love after work, lerning new skills and spending time with freinds and family.
I am not rich, but i am happy.
When living in the US in the 90’es I realized that a major difference between Danes and Americans seemed to be what we base our identity/self on.
For Americans prestige means a lot. What school you went to, which companies you have worked for, the title on your business card, annual income, the monetary value of your belongings, the city and/or the area you live in, the size of your house and the make of your car. This even extend to your family’s status including your children, almost from birth. How smart they are, how attractive they are (like pageants) and how accomplished they are. It’s very competitive.
However, if you for some reason loose your status you kind of loose your identity as well.
In general I believe Danes more base their identity on who they are as a person. Like how they treat others, their loyalty to friends and family, their attitude towards others including coworkers, their independence and individuality, their skills and personal achievements in life, like for instance overcoming difficulties. All attributes that are not firmly tied to your job or position in society. Losing your job or position thus is not really tied to shame and degradation because it doesn’t change who you are as a person, how you deal with the situation is far more important because it shows what you are actually made of.
If you ask Danish parents what they want for their children when they grow up, most will say that it doesn’t really matter what job, income or partner they end up with as long as they are happy.
Obviously it’s not that American parents don’t want their children to be happy as well but more what they think the path to happiness is, like being able to attend a good (preferably prestigious) school, college and grad school, getting a well paid job preferably at a prestigious or at least a well known and respected company/firm/business, a spouse with equal status, a high annual income and a big house in a good neighborhood. Basically living the American dream. That has got to put more pressure on kids to perform and become “successful” as they grow up, and they are probably more prone to experience feelings of failure and shame plus harboring a fear of failing in general.
I think that also has something to do with how happy/content you are with your life as an adult.
The intro and recurrance of "the wall" Schmeichel is epic! 👍👍🧱
This is THE best evaluation of "Danish happiness" I've seen. And I've seen quite a lot.
There is one thing that isn't often mentioned when comparing happiness, and I think is an important "cocktail" factor.
We Danes are traveling a lot, both rich and poor, young and old people, and experiencing different cultures, politics, etc. first-hand, and not only relying on what teachers/media told us and are telling us about the world outside our borders.
In my view (too) many Americans' "understanding" of socialism or the "social democratic" way Scandinavian countries are based on, are not often based on facts, pro's and con's, but was/is meant to discourage anyone from thinking there is a better way of living than the American way.
The way (too)many Americans react to any kind of changes, and even changes that could improve the life for a huge majority of them, like free education and free health care, isn't based on facts, not pro's and con's, but FEAR!!
Because they've always been told, nobody in the world is as free as Americans are, and any kind of change will take their freedom away. That fear, combined with poverty, violence, corruption,, and many trapped in very bad relationships for financial reasons (and to keep health care, etc). and too many "stay at home moms" aren't educated and can't support themselves or their children as single parents).
There are so many aspects of being fearful, and angry, as they know their lives aren't perfect, and they don't know how to change things, as they don't want changes either, and almost half of the Americans now want to "go back" and make their lives "great again" though the people not belonging to the richest percent, lived under worse conditions than now...
Again not based on any kinds of facts! And this happening in a time where everyone of us has access to the internet and more knowledge than ever before...?? It's crazy! And not happening by chance, but choice!
And fear combined with anger, and ignorance of facts, it's a VERY dangerous cocktail.
I think many Danes are happy/content, because our education is more fact-based, and by traveling to many and very different cultures, we've seen different levels of worse first-hand.
But still, we know there is room for improvements, and we've been taught to be critical to authorities, and view things from different perspectives, and our voices and opinions matter, no matter if you are rich or poor.
And there are many and very different "the one and only best way to live", and it depends on each individual person to find his/hers "one and only best way to live"
A study showed that the term happiness had been confused with being content with your life.
So danes aren't actually happy per say, but content with their lives, mostly thanks to the danish wellfare system.
Yeah. And we're okay with that.
I suppose you could turn it around, and say that less people are unhappy with their life, than most other countries.
What study?
Life is like that, and you will eventually die. That’s life!
Yes Michael and that make us SAFE 😊
A few years ago when I was learning Danish, I made a presentation about the World Happiness Report, which is based on a yearly Gallup Poll in 150+ countries, with around 3000 respondents per country and many questions (I am a market researcher 😊 ). Last year, the top drivers of happiness for Denmark were life evaluation (scored by respondents), social support, freedom and trust (as in no corruption) so your reflexion about Maslow’s pyramid is not that far! Reports are online and do not qualify as an easy read or as an elevator pitch... 200+ pages!!! Your analysis is more interesting 😊😊😊
My father was a Dane, born in 1905 and came to the US in 1929. He was a very pleasant and happy man. I don’t mean laughing and carrying on - just very content. He did not live in the Denmark that you are talking about but he had our small family and a few neighbors and work friends which were his life. He never said he wished that he had done this or that - he seemed content.
To me being content/satisfied with the life one has, is happiness :)
This is by far, the best explanation, I have ever heard about happiness in Denmark (and other Nordic countries). Great job!
I think, there are several important factors.. Like Gender equality and a regulated labor market, strong unions and collective agreements negotiated by the social partners, thus, both, Women and Men can have fulfilling jobs and have decent, liveable salaries and be somewhat financially independent.
Thank you so much Signe 😃🇩🇰
And you’re right to add all of those other factors because they contribute to the good life that is so achievable to all!
Another great video. Kudos.
I really like how you guys put in a lot of thought into the videos you make, it is refreshing to see videos that is not just "how I feel" but go deeper and consider the "why" behind things.
Great little analysis! Thanks. That made me happy.
(Add to list: being complimented for the society you live in)
You guys are so nice I almost miss my home country. I have stayed in Thailand for 8 years and I feel the people here have been so welcoming and supporting, that it's overwhelming. I wish the danes could treat you as awesome as I am being treated here. And the weather...
You are surely helping me being a better expat, by turning the tables.
Thanks a lot
Such an excellent contribution! USA has all these phantastic ideas - like Maslow's value hierarchy! This conceptualization explains a lot. For example why people actually aren't negative about the high taxes - we do know that we get a lot basic security and value from them in the Nordic countries, from basic security up to self-actualization. Everybody contributes, too - each time we buy something, we pay taxes. From bubble gums to plane tickets. We are dependent on eachother, and we take responsibility to protest if the tax-money is used against our values, because there are many political parties to represent us. But we are not personally dependent on only one or a few other individuals. It wasn't always so - we've had a very oppressive patriarchal rule, too, but struggled to get rid of it, generation by generation. And we are not ready, yet.
Thank you so much for food for thought!
Great analysis guys! Tbh I think that some of the younger people here in DK take many of these things for granted. Including myself when I was that age.
I think they could learn a lot from watching videos like this, where things get put into perspective 🙏
I often think about how lucky i am living i Denmark, always love your videos 🙏😀
this video made me realize how lucky I am to live in a country like Denmark.
very informative video, defo a like from me!
HI, DO NOT LEAVE DK, we need you. you are so good so inportent.
the Psychological needs (love and belonging) you hit it quite well, also why we sometimes really do not thrive in America, we feel like every friendship in America is superficial, since it is EASY to come by, and you have never built the fundamental needs of trust.. "speed of trust" is maybe a "company" term.. but you REALLY need to built it, for it to be REAL, and that is also why in Denmark, conversations between friends are MUCH deeper, and they support eachother with real heavy problems, and thoughts. I don´t think that EXCLUDES foreigners to get close, but it just demands that they respect that it is not a 10 minute deal to get friendship, it is an investment, without real payout for a while.
Ét ord: Forventningsafstemning. Vi danskere er verdensmestre i forventningsafstemning. Det bliver man lidt lykkelig af.
Måske bare en anden måde at sige at danskernes forventninger er få og små.
Så kan man jo kun blive glædeligt overrasket.
Min private teori er at danskerne er dem, som er kommet længst i menneskelig og human udvikling, og at den udvikling (ifølge min teori) fremmer glæde ved tilværelsen.
Forventningsafstemning, få og små.
Man bliver nok mest lykke af at se på hvad man har, og ikke hvad naboen har.
Many people outside Denmark mistake being content with happiness. I would say Danes are maybe more content than people in other countries and that its then translated to some form of mistaken happiness.
Really good insight, it's being happy with the simple things that matter the most and not trying to compare and keep up with others - Danes are great at zeroing in on what matters.
@@RobeTrotting The part about comparing and keeping up with others, you have touched upon before in your videos, the one about Danish homes and how it can be hard getting invited into Danish homes when you first learn to know people. And when you speak about how danes dont brag or show off as much as they maybe do in USA. I think its all part of our "happiness" that we are mostly content with our lives. I wish i had knowledge of more fancy words to describe it in english.
good point
Absolutely love the skits you guys make, they’re so creative!
This was such an interesting way to dissect happiness. Often you think happiness as happy-go-lucky, big smiles and large living... Anything but the black, white and grey sphere we surround us self with. If you walk through a danish mall or on the street, the people around you doesn't exactly scream "Happiness". But when you look at it through the Maslow glasses, you'll notice what really matters if you want to feel happy.
Thank you so much! We wanted to cover this for a while now and every time we sat down together to outline our thoughts, we described things just as you did - people aren’t running around overjoyed, they’re focused on what matters and have the ability to do that because of the superior social welfare and equality in Danish society.
Interesting and good video, thank you very much, guys👍
As you say, I believe the majority of Danish people are cool with anybody as long as they don't harm other people (or animals)
Personally, I think that people should be free to choose the way of life they want to live (as long as they don't harm others)
Different races, religions, sexuality, beliefs, etc. Why would that bother me? It's not interfering with my life in any way, so just let people live the way they want to
Love, respect and best wishes from Hillerød
Thank you for sharing the things in Denmark because I will move there next year And I like all the videos you tell about that country thank you.❤
Thank you for this video 🙂 It's a good analysis of people's needs and the connection to the country you live in. May be home is where you feel good after all...
This was not mentioned but another big reason that the majority of Danes are happy is because they are not slaves to religion nor religious dogma. In fact, Denmark is one of the worlds most irreligious countries in the world. This stands is in stark contrast to America which is one of the most religious western countries in the world - especially because they turned religion into a business. This is cause for a lot of depression among Americans because religion provides a false view of the world and many are locked into religious partnerships and expected to act in certain ways which eventually results in unhappiness.
Load of bs.
@@jimmybaldbird3853 Yes, religion is BS of the worst kind...
Well ...we have gotten quite a lot more religious people in Denmark since the summer of 2015
Yes but they are not danes, Heidi
@@TheVermithrax no, his poorly constructed sentences, his grossly exaggerated claims, and just general falsehoods are bs. I hope you find Jesus.
Very interesting combining Maslow with danish happiness :-) I think you are right.
I love watching your channel - this episode is the BEST so far! Thx ❤️
Just for fun let me mention that in my Danish school in 1959-1960 we were taught about the "Maslow's pyramide" already :-) ... fun - now that I'm 76 years old a lot of this still sits in me :-) - thanks for this nice initiative :-)
Still got the jante lov,, but got my early retirement from the state, so i "have/option" to be happy, bless you guys.
Tillykke 😃🇩🇰
You Are making us blush 😉
For me. This is your best video yet. Loved the intro. Thanks :)
Thank you for such a great compliment 😃 we’re so happy you enjoyed it and thanks for watching 🇩🇰
Nice analisys.
Never seen the Maslow applied to dk happyness.
Very good video.
Also a real feel good video.
Thank you Jens! So glad you enjoyed it. It’s funny because we were discussing this topic and thought of just going through all the normal reasons for happiness that are floated out there and we just felt like the main reason was that needs are met across the country at every level and that’s what allows for happiness, kind of like Maslow… 💡 and then we just couldn’t turn back
Having really enjoyed watching your videos for some time and hearing you touch on this subject a few times makes me want to ask if you yourself feel more sense of happiness living in Denmark than USA? 😊
Great way to make Denmark visual 👁
As a Social Pædagog, Maslow has always been a solid go-to, when you need to make any concept understandable without mudding the waters, too much! 😉🤣
Sooo.....individuality? does that mean some dyed hair or a tattoo, in the future? 🤣 Thanks guys 👍
hello from Hundested 🌸 🌱
Just LOVED this video. 🌹🌹🌹 I felt you both Are satisfied here in DK. 🇩🇰 IT is a Nice country that's why I love to Pay taxes 🇩🇰 I'm really happy for you and Your danish life 💞
So glad you enjoyed the video, we do love living in Denmark and it fits us really well (at least we think so). Super happy to be in such a great country and living our Danish life 😀🇩🇰
That intro is HILARIOUS 😂
Thanks Jannie 😃🇩🇰 so glad you enjoyed it. We were pretty happy with it and laughed a lot filming it 😂
Loved the beginning. You are so good every time to explain, what you feel and mean
Glad you enjoyed! That was a fun intro to film - so happy you liked it and thank you for watching :)
You just nailed it! Living in DK is like growing up in a butter cookie box - what's not to like?
Great video as always where you are straight on point. I personally feel the concept of happiness is overrated, which is why Maslow's pyramid is the perfect measure for motivation in life
Loved the intro 😂
Great analysis, I think You nailed it spot on.
Hey guys i seen a couple of the videos you made and its funny and good info keep it up
I have to say the intro was fun you got a new sub should have done some videos ago but im here now 👍😁
Aw thanks Christian! Super glad to have you as a subscriber and thankful for your kind words. We will definitely keep the videos coming! 😃🇩🇰
Thanks for what you do
great work already on new video from last week when Schmeichel came up scared me haha.
Have a great weekend guys 😎
My dad works for an American company and has co-workers around the world. He once once compared American and Danish work culture and compared Danish work culture to hippies.
Hippies maybe, but the important thing is "Do they get the work done?"
@@bentalexranebundgaard4867 True. My dad had more to say than what I mentioned here. I just found it an interesting comparison.
Also, I think it should be mentioned, America has one of the worst work-life balances in the world. The whole system is rigged for maximum exploitation of the worker. This is not the way in Denmark, nor should it ever become so.
omg love that opening scene!! Great video even if I am a day late :)
Thanks Mom ❤️
Fantastic Intro!
Thank you 😊 that was a fun one.
My wife and I celerbrate birthdays, chrismas and evenings with my ex .. 🙂🙂
That’s so great Ole! Derek here (important to note haha), my parents split when I was 17 and my sibling were younger. They never really come together for anything and they had a really bad relationship in the years after they split. It’s really nice that you can keep things civil and still gather, especially if you have kids involved 😃
@@RobeTrotting I do boy and a daughter 🙂
They also eat a lot of high nutrition foods, such as Leverpostei and seafood.
Yet another great video, i thoroughly enjoy watching your channel 🙂
Love the intro lol
Thank you! It was a random idea right before we filmed 😂 so glad you enjoyed it.
@@RobeTrotting If you later in your life want a change of career you should definitely consider acting!! 😁🤑
Please come to Aarhus. It's called "the city that smiles" or "City of smiles"
We want to plan a trip to Aarhus in the new year. We have had it high on the list and just ran out of 2021 weekends. Can’t wait to see the city though 🤩🇩🇰
I really enjoyed listening to this. I did. Except for the divorce part..
I am Jewish and I love Danish people, they are so kind, and they saved Jews during the shoah
Great people deserve to be happy❤
That intro was pretty funny.
So happy you liked it - it was a last minute idea to throw in 😂
ROFL, I just clicked on this one. I am laughing right along with you.
That is a pretty good analysis. Yes, people seem pretty content in the Nordic countries. And I think that there may be a good reason why Danes do not make friends so easily in public - it is so cold for a large part of the year, so that people stay indoors with their friends and family. In the southern Europe there is a culture of walking in the streets, sitting down at a coffee shop etc. That is a pretty new thing in DK. :)
Marianne - no, the bulk of us love to be outside i ALL weather . Come on, Marianne, what's is your problem. A I have walked outside for 4-6 hours almot daily. So healthy - Why don't you?
one of the things i love about being danish... having our own football jersey... i think you should work on your props!
If you can find an authentic one Lars, we will definitely upgrade 😉 🇩🇰 they’re sold out everywhere.
Good work
How do you find, the 2nd level, Safety, do people take advantage of that automatic safety-net?
It's human nature, but they make it REALLY hard for you to do so - there's very little (almost zero) corruption in government - things are super vetted and conflicts of interest are removed in every possible way. As far as -- say people who are on the Danish version of disability (it's very common to "go out on stress" for example) they get a case manager and sometimes daily calls to make sure the treatment plan is being followed "did you attend you appointment this week?" "can you return to work for two and a half days per week? what about working from home one day a week and going in two days a week?". It's a much more generous safety net, but people mostly use it as such and there are accountability measure to ensure abuse is limited - even random checks at the airport to see if you are on unemployment and traveling (you CAN travel, but you don't get paid for those days and you report them to your case manager). There are a lot of checks to keep people honest and therefore people are happy to support each other when they need it (instead of having community fundraisers and GoFundMe campaigns and stuff - if you need it, the services are just there for you).
@@RobeTrotting i love that system, thank you for the details! Maybe it seems to some as strict - the constant checking - but i am looking it the way you do, too, as helpful and caring (it takes a village etc - and not just for children). Just three days ago (that is how i found your channel) i started learning danish LOL. Yes, i saw your advise not to do that before visiting, but it cannot hurt ;) . Looking forward to check your other videos and your future ones. Take care!
Are you happier here yourself? 🙂
I do not know what you do behind the scene, to make videos like this, not that it matters, but what you do is really working. Great job. The flow is so cool it all feels very natural and organic, I really love it. I think one of the things you do right is, a real cool scientific way, of showing your findings, it really captivates, at least me hehe. By scientific I more or less just mean, emotion free way of explaining it, so it does not rely on whether or not people like it, nor is it an opinion as such. It is more of a preference, making a true choice, from close to complete comprehension, rather then an emotional choice, from how things feel around something. I hope that makes sense 😂. As I think is the best way to make ones life, make being a very well chosen word here, rather then choose one life, because it is obvious one can make roads where none seem to be hihihi 😂😂😂😂😂😂😉😎🙏. Keep up the good work.
Kudos guys - starting to think you were Danes lost in transit before you arrived, you seem to understand the reasons behind our peculiarities lol..
Thank you! And the only reason why I think we weren’t Danes in a different life is that we still can’t make half the sounds required to speak Danish 😜
@@RobeTrotting Too many words, sorry.. Once we hit double digits, the time where we don't feel like it sounds foreign ourselves is already passed, the gifted linguists aside. Barby (GeographyNow) has a workable technique but making funny sounds that are quite alien to our own language, isn't something that's as easy to freely allow ourselves to do once "society" has had hold of us lol. Once we care about how we run and 'what people think', we're already on the backfoot for new language - you guys are doing yourselves bloody proud. It took me years to get it back and I grew up here. English is easier for Danes because although it has more words, they're basically made up of less complicated phonetics. Kinda like driving an automatic when ya learnt and normally use a stick. Danglish accents aside.. Have a great weekend fellas
Love the intro, but change the jersey to a Danish one ;)
Haha good eye. We went for jerseys during the Euro and there was nothing authentic so we went to a souvenir shop - aka they pressed “DANMARK” onto the back and stitched a Dannebrog on the other side 😂
Great points :-)
I think its important to know that nothing is free, not even in Denmark ;D We´re lucky to have all the possibilities and choices, but you still need to put in an effort. Especially when it comes to socializing, friendships and family.. We have a lot of freedom to "Do things our own way", but if your not being nice and social to your surroundings, you´ll end up just like "the lonely guy in New York" ;)
Well stated! Thank you for sharing that, it really will help someone 😃🇩🇰
would love to see your thoughts on a YT vid called 'Living Danishly: inspiring ideas from the world's happiest country' from the channel 'Action for Happiness' where she talks about the triangle u show in this vid at around the 46min mark... it says from buttom to top
Physiological Needs: Breathing, Food, Water, Shelter, Clothing, Sleep
Safety and Security: Health, Employment, Property, Family and Social Stability
Love and Belonging: Friendship, Family, Intimacy, Sense of Connection
Self-esteem: Confidence, Achievement, Respect of Others
Self-actualization: Morality, Creativity, Spontaneity, Acceptance
and she talks about a few other things that u didnt talk about in this vid...
Fucking lol... That cut to 'Danish' and then flags, beer and weird hair XD Well done.
That has me laughing
Hey Guys
I like your videos :) (I'm sorry for all my misspellings)
I'm a teacher here in Denmark, and I just wanted join the conversation about the family being important in the danish society.
You can actually still see it in how we arrange students in our school system.
We often have a class where the students are together from the age of 5 until they are15 (more or less). There is a Class teacher, often the math and/or the danish teacher who talks to the students about different social subjects like, how are we good friends, is everyone included, where do we go on our next class trip and other stuff.
One could argue that this structure mimics a, heteronormative, family with a mom, a dad and 27 kids.
Until like 20 years ago, I believe, you would have the same class teacher throughout school. But that changed so you now have 2-3 different class teachers in your school period.
I hope it makes sense :D
Thank you for adding this - it’s such a great point and extends beyond this video to so many other topics we have discussed on our channel like how to socialize and make friends with Danish people and some of the challenges (and misunderstandings) that come with connecting to locals. Those friend circles are tight and certainly due to the classroom/schooling structures you described.
We would love to cover the schooling topic in a future video. If you’d be up for a short chat about that to help us along more, please shoot us an email or DM. We would love some expert input 😊🇩🇰
@@RobeTrotting uuuhhh I would love to help, if I can! Sadly I’m not that use to communicating on UA-cam, so I don’t know where to find your email? 😇
I agree with many here saying welfare system is good so people worry less and contentment rather than happiness is more the case. Plus Prozac or antidepressant use is easily available
good video!
I am sure that people in Denmark are very happy, and I think your lists of positive things about life in Denmark are accurate. But I have reservations about Maslow’s hierarchy. In the 1960s Maslow’s hierarchy was popular amongst industrial psychologists and personnel managers in South Africa, a country divided by race and wealth. The managers reasoned that black workers were driven by physiological or safety needs, but that white managers were up at esteem and self-actualisation needs. So workers got offered pay packets to cover housing and perhaps a company hospital and other basic necessities, but managers not only had huge pay packets but were offered holidays in game reserves and bursaries for their children and jobs for wives, etc. The trouble with this kind of thinking, based on Maslow, is that it suggests that a poor hungry person lacks the imagination to appreciate holidays in game reserves or being able to keep a trophy wife who can choose to work or stay at home. To me it is clear that being hungry or living on the street in no way limits a human being’s imagination, so any personnel decisions based on the theory are going to cause resentment and resistance. I think happiness is only partly based on material things. Yes it is hard to be happy and hungry, but most happiness comes from relationships and activities that absorb one’s thoughts and emotions. Anyway.
being poor and on the street, you will proberly not get to enjoy a holiday in a game reserve. you wil be focused on survival.
@@steenjacobsen1474 But you can certainly understand what the managers are getting (for you don’t lack imagination) and your resentment will be all the greater.
Don't underestimate the brokke-factor in Denmark, I'm not sure if there is an equivalent to it in America, or other pleases, but the ability to be able to shed the things that would otherwise keep boiling under the surface, until they blow up, is also a big part of dansh culture.
At least that's one of my big theories about being happy in Denmark.
@Julie Kjærgaard Jacobsen This, I hear, is also source of consternation when we interact with foreigners. The directness of Danish conversation can be a tough swallow. Of course, I personally can't attest to it, but I think our lovely hosts have mentioned it a couple of times.
(edit: me being Danish and all)
I have lots of fun shocking my friend group, by being direct. The are a bit younger than me, and aren't used to "my brand" of directness :)
"I kid, only with love".
I like being very direct... also for the fun factor, but I would never intentionally hurt with what I say, and I will always explain if asked. I will also always have (some sort) of reason behind what I'm saying. Also, only with my close(r) friends..
@@wiseodd I so get that, being direct, snappy and honest (in the shortest sentence possible) can also be a lot of fun.
most people have to feel safe in order take chances
Very true, safe risks are important too.
Have heard the entire thing spiel of being a trashman or plumber being looked down upon. But it's frankly sth where people tend to go "Oh, who else is going to take care of your shit and trash? Someone does have to do it!" Which is again something that is just really powerful.
Lol 😂😂 The thumbnail is funny
❤️❤️❤️❤️
The world is generally misserable, the nordics are just the least, due to circomstances you guys have mentioned. It's not like people are fearing external prospects like many places in the world. With that being said, don't go around thinking it's like a happy paradise where everyone are joyous. Humanity have not yet gone beyond the self created suffering, an aspect of us that not even a nice living situation will take you beyond. We all know this from the rich and famous, they'll tell you all the money in the world won't make you happy. The noumerous icons who died from drugs etc..
Money definitly makes life bearable compared to not having anything, but never think it will fulfill you.
👍 Great video. Yes Danes are free, from worries and free to be who and what they want. The state is here to service the people, not the other way around, which is how it should be 😊. Danmark and the other Scandinavian countries maybe the most liberal places in the world.
But the Danes can and will be brutal and harsh on those who do not follow the general idiology. For eksempel, if you're a corrupt govorment person or if you think you have more rights then anybody else, for eksample if you drive your car like you own the streets, danes hates that. The thing here is that noone is better the the next guy, no one owns anybody and you don't have to scrape and bow to anybody for money or any other reason. Respect the law and other people around you, and consider them and be mindful of them aswell. Most people do this in DK and thats one of the keys to happiness 🙂 the population here is also not too diversified, which otherwise could challenge a common mindset of the Danes (it already does alittle)
I think the word "most content" or "least unhappy" is a more fitting way to describe Danes than "happy". Or what would you say, Derek and Mike? Do you see Danes as being happy? Do Danes smile more than what you generally experience in the States? Are we very positive, smiling, happy?
That is exactly what the “happiest countries” list is based on - not “smiling” happy, but being satisfied with what you have.
you are the one misunderstanding what happy means in this context, it doesn't mean smiling like a crazy person.
@@metamon2704 I'm not misunderstanding anything :) I know how the "happiest countries" list is generated. My comment was just as much meant to explain to others viewers that Danes are more "content" than "happy". I'm just curious how Derek and Mike experience Danes in regards to the "smiling happy" aspect. :)
@@Tue_ I know :)
Im so happy with my life and my family and friends! But also because i have cats ind my life.
Happiness comes in so many forms 😃🇩🇰 🐈
Yes! But something could be better. But for now im so happy and greatfuld!
I don't consider us more 'happy' than so many other people. Personally, I think the term 'content' covers so much better. I would say that the fact that you don't have to worry about how to pay for education and health care is a very big part of it.
We think so too - it’s just the fact that many of life’s biggest stressors are taken out of the picture that makes “happiness” widespread.
I agree. I think “more content” is the more appropriate description.
Danes are happy because they've been told so. :)
And Danes don't question such things.
It feels good.
As Bill Bailey (British comedian, musician and actor) points out in one of his shows, Danish people aren't happy. We're content. There's a difference.
I think that’s spot on.
Frihed under ansvar ! Freedom with responsibility ! Happy Hygge.
the most common jobs that american's look down on, and also have very low salary, like the garbage Truck workers or in the fastfood industry. It's really the opposite here in Denmark, they're highly valued and get a good pay, specially the garbage truck workers gets a high salary, i just think we care more for people, and also jobs. i have been a cleaner,a house builder, and now a warehouse worker"Føtex". and i wouldn't change that for anything. if people enjoy what they do, they shouldn't be feeling ashamed of it. and i get that expression on the American way of thinking, i've seen many video's about it and also by people i know over there, it's kinda sad if you think bout it
It’s really sad, you are very correct to point that out. It’s wonderful how much Danes value and support every type of work and every worker who contributes. I wish America was more like that, because it really makes a difference and when you value money over happiness - or devalue workers that you deem less valuable, society is diminished.
Wait do you live in Denmark det gør jeg også
Ja selvfølgelig. vi har boet i danmark i 4 år 😃🇩🇰
lol that intro lol.
Hej Derek og Mike. Vi danskere har kæmpet for den glæde og lykke vi har idag. Det kan vi takke fagforeninger for og den arbejdskamp der har været gennem tiden. Ellers ville Danmark se anderledes ud i dag. Det er jo ikke noget som er faldet ned fra himlen, som Dannebrog. Det har været en hård kamp at nå til det vi har idag.
Hilsen Charlotte
"Why are Danes so Happy?" Apparently because they meet the demands of some American happiness pyramid model from the 1940s and 50s. Come on, guys! You've been living in Denmark long enough now to know better. If you really like rhetorical, Rosenthalian questions, surely a better one would be: "Why are Danes so miserable?" I'd love to see you make a video on that, starting with a critical analysis of the statistic material that propagates the happiness claim.
Well I’m danish. And it’s kinda true
An unfortunate factor that might contribute, particularly to the upper converging need, is the high consumption of antidepressants... Generally it seems to be an issue for many Nordic and western countries and is not necessarily a single reason, but seems to be an unfortunate factor
That is absolutely not true.
The truth is that we are happy based on "other countries".
People often ask me when i state we are not a happy people "What, you think USA is better?" "Would you rather live in China?"
And that's the same flaw of the analysis you guys do.
You compare, to a model or in other places.
But is "happy" happy because other places are worse?
Wouldn't that analysis just make us less sad/depressed/frustrated?
Having needs met is just a small part of being happy.
Do we trust our government more than other places?
Do we educate more people?
Do we take care of our weak and homeless better?
Do we have a system that prevents mentally ill from falling thru the cracks?
We are just a smaller country, but we have not gotten a happy people.
We might have less that complaint, but if you dare 😅then find ANY working Dane, and ask them about our taxes.
Or find ANY chronically sick Dane, and ask them about our healthcare.
The issue is that the working class is asked if they are happy with the healthcare which they rarely use
And the chronically sick are asked about taxes which don't affect them
Then it's not hard to say people are happy
I've always attributed it to superior Scandinavian genes.
I had a leadership position in the unionist movement, requiring a lot of judicial and political fork. I also had fire engibe red hair, with a long mohawk, my face full of piercings amd leopard print glasses...
Because it was about my abilities and crudentiels. I will say though, that there are still a garde of old fashioned conservatives who'd never hire people like me but thankfully I could choose otherwise - I still have all the facial puercings btw. I'll be 41 in a couple of months and I'm a mother of a small child - again, it's about being who I am, not the piercings.
As someone who lived in the states I think you hit the nail on the head by mentioning what financiel safety and stability means to the overall safety. American's seem to be VERY aware of crime, gunlaws f.ex.reflect this a lot. "The world is dangerous" as friends would point out... and that was in the early 2000's when Seattle was still a good place to live (I know it has now become very sad and difficult).
The world WILL be ub-safe when large parts of society is cut off from decent jobs and wages, can not afford anything from feeding their kids, to healthcare or a 401K . Social and financiel insecurity breeds crime. It is evident in many a sociological study, across the globe... and U'm still baffled sometimes tht American's seem oblivious tp it. Ooon thw other hnd... when schooling can be anytjing from 2+2 in a cabin in the Apalachiens to Ivy-leagues for the richest, maybe the knowledge and reflection is not fair to expect. I met many an American who NEVER heard news, saw documentaries or read about the world outside of America... pretty shocking, to be honest.
In order to convay more insight into the sociadel structures here, for qurious forrigners and future ex-pats alike, I'd suggest you do a video on the flexicurity system (A-kasse, dagpenge, "hiring and fireing) as-well as thibgs such as "almene boliger" and docial security concepts such as shielded work (beskyttet arbejde) or flex work (fleksjob) for people with chronic disease or disability.
As flawed as they may have become, they are still very very unique and adds to the sence of security for many people.
Trying to explain to Americans what it is and how it's possible with the average Dane in a 37-40% tax bracket is dsmned near impossible!
Hi guys,
This covers more of your videos:
My problem with USA is 'The front', the false, the make-believe.
The 'American Dream' is total nonsense.
If you want to experience the 'American Dream', then Denmark is the best place.
Everybody has the opportunity to get an education for free, up to, and included a PhD.
You want to start a new business: Ask 'SKAT' for a 'cvr number' and off you go.
regards to the both of you
JD
PS:
Think about why I call my self John Due :-)