Is Happiness Infectious Or it's Just a Myth? By Katherine Lightwood

Is Happiness Infectious Or it's Just a Myth?

By Katherine Lightwood

Have you ever meet someone so happy that you figure out that they must be hiding some terrifying secrets?

A few years back headlines were running with the assertion that happiness may be contagious like a bizarre awesome version of flu.So, can the happiness of others actually make you happy? Is our best hope for happiness to hang out with happy guys who refuse to share everyone's GLOOM and that it's only Monday and the work week is lasting forever.

The idea that happiness is contagious comes from a study that followed more than 4,700 people for 20 years and asked them to periodically fill the questionnaires about their well being. After creating an emotional baseline the researchers found that the emotions fluctuated based on the participant's social network. And no, I am not talking about their Facebook and social media followers.

For example, the study found that a good friend who lives half a mile away can increase happiness up to 42%, a neighbor can increase 34% and a spouse can only increase happiness about 8%. The study found that happiness doesn't seem to spread in the workplace. However, possibly if one person gets a promotion, someone else doesn't.

But some people have their doubts about that study's findings, arguing that it's possible that the happy people are just drawn to other happy people. It can also be that people who live near each other share the same type of environments that might increase happiness like a safe neighborhood, affluence or good employment.

In response to these arguments, the analysis said that strangers sharing the same environment didn't have the same positive happiness effect as neighbors who knew each other concluding that it was the WHO not WHERE.

However, another study based on the same dataset and using the same correlation reasoning has been published. Using this method they were able to find that nontransferable traits like heights were also contagious. They found short teenagers who befriended tall kids actually became taller over time.

Other serious research has shown that it is actually biological factors rather than societal ones that determines happiness. One such study found that 35 to 50% of happiness was attributable to genetic factors like those found in your brain, not the neighbor. In the end, the findings weren't as conclusive. So, here we go again I am leaving you with an unanswered question. But, now it's up to you, how you will conclude, everyone's situation is different right?   

So, that was my thought of the day. To see more posts like this make sure to visit our main page. And Do not forget to visit our institute's page to know more about graphic design, 3D, animation courses and other awesome stuff. Till then good day to you.

Katherine Lightwood