Is Happiness Contagious? Here's What Science Says

Is it possible to spread joy and positivity simply through our actions? Can happiness really be contagious? Sonia Vadlamani delves into the science behind how happiness can ripple through our social circles and impact on others.

 

Even as someone who leans toward introversion, I find myself smiling at strangers when I travel or while visiting a new place. What began as an intuitive gesture has gradually developed into a personal experiment to see whether such a visible expression of happiness could be contagious. And, more often than not, sharing a smile with strangers usually works in my favour.

 

This is true especially in crowded, high-stress environments like airports. Given the frustrating delays, extended layovers and long transit hours, a simple smile can feel like a kind gesture – a way to soothe frazzled nerves and uplift spirits. Indeed, over time, I’ve noticed something remarkable: happiness does appear to be contagious.

 

The proof is in the pudding: when I was smiley and upbeat, the over-stretched airline staff seemed more courteous and check-ins became smoother: there wan't an issue when my luggage was slightly over the allowed weight limit and I often got a seat upgrade for free. Indeed, it’s hard to stay grumpy when someone around you is being kind and pleasant. 

Our author tested the happiness contagion theory while traveling

 

OK, this doesn’t work every single time, but it does make a meaningful difference very often. It seems our attitude does influence the environment around us. Which raises a powerful possibility: that happiness is contagious as well.

 

So, is Happiness Contagious? What Science Says

The contagiousness of happiness isn’t just a theory but a widely researched and scientifically validated phenomenon. In fact, a longitudinal social network analysis of almost 5,000 individuals spanning over 20 years establishes that happiness is a collective phenomenon, spreading up to three layers of separation within a social cluster. In essence, people who are surrounded by happy people are more likely to become happier themselves, particularly when in close proximity.

 

This ripple effect of happiness can be partly explained through the theory of emotional contagion, which proposes that we subconsciously mimic the facial expressions and emotional states of the people we come into contact with. Our brains are equipped with a network of cells known as the Mirror Neuron System (MNS), which interprets the facial movements and emotional markers of those around us and reflects the same. This also explains why we tend to “mirror” the emotional cues from our environment – why we instinctively smile when someone is smiling and grimace when others around us seems tense. 

 

“Happiness is contagious, no doubt. However, spreading joy doesn’t require grand gestures and extensive shifts in your routine. Very often it’s the small, thoughtful actions that leave the biggest impact on others.”

Dr David R. Hamilton, renowned author and founder of The 21-Day Kindfulness Experiment, elaborates on the happiness contagion phenomenon: “This means that if you become happier, you will increase the likelihood of your friends becoming happier (1-degree), your friends’ friends (2-degrees), and your friends’ friends’ friends (3-degrees). And most likely you have never met, nor will ever meet, most of the people in this latter group. Yet your change in happiness affects them.”

 

Emotional contagion plays a key role in personal relationships by encouraging behavioural synchrony. Simply put, we often mirror the behaviours of happy people around us – consciously or otherwise – driven by the promise of greater well-being and life satisfaction.

 

Laugh and the world laughs with you: 5 ideas to spread happiness

Happiness is contagious, no doubt. However, spreading joy doesn’t necessarily require grand gestures and extensive shifts in your routine. Very often it’s the small, thoughtful actions – along with the ability to be present and attentive – that leave the biggest impact on others.

Here are five simple yet powerful practical ideas you can implement into your day-to-day activities to help you spark joy that ripple outward:

 

1. Extend small acts of kindness

A review of 489 articles and 27 studies by researchers Oliver Scott Curry et al found that small acts of kindness boost wellbeing and happiness levels.

Martin Seligman, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, expands upon this striking insight in his book Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being, "We scientists have found that doing a kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested. Here is the exercise: find one wholly unexpected kind thing to do tomorrow and just do it. Notice what happens to your mood.”
 

Show kindness to waiting staff who are often rushed off their feet

 

Indeed, extending kindness doesn’t just benefit the recipient but helps the giver feel better about themselves as well. Being kind to others leads to the release of “feel-good” hormones like endorphins and oxytocin that also improves the helper’s mood, bolstering the idea that happiness is contagious. This phenomenon, also known as “helper’s high,” creates a ripple effect that can brighten someone’s day while lifting your own spirits. 

 

If wondering where to begin, start with small, random acts of kindness. You can engage in ‘pebbling’ – a term inspired by the charming trait of penguins, who present their mate with the most perfect pebble they can find. Pebbling involves low-effort but meaningful gestures that show you care, like:

• Holding the elevator for someone
• Helping someone carrying a heavy stroller on a staircase 
• Complimenting a stranger on a great outfit 
• Surprising your coworker with their favourite muffin
• Acknowledging someone behind the counter with a smile and a friendly “How’s your day been?”
• Recommending a book to a friend you think they’d love
• Running errands for an elderly neighbour
• Sending an encouragement text to someone before an exam or interview 

Unlike grand gestures involving significant effort, planning or money, pebbling is essentially rooted in kindness. While seeming like simple, spur-of-the-moment actions, these kind gestures can go a long way in spreading positivity and cheer.

 

2. Gossip, But Positively

While complimenting someone directly may be discredited as flattery or brown-nosing, praising someone behind their back seldom comes across as insincere. As prominent author and life coach Martha Beck explains in an article on Oprah.com, “What people say behind our backs really sticks.” So, the next time you find yourself wondering, “is happiness contagious,” try spreading it through positive gossip.

 

“Extending kindness doesn’t just benefit the recipient but helps the giver feel better. Being kind to others leads to the release of 'feel-good' hormones that also improve the helper’s mood, bolstering the idea that happiness is contagious.”

 

Use the tendency to gossip to uplift rather than undermine: admire people in their absence and share genuine compliments with third parties. According to a study published by the Computer Science Department of the University of Minnesota, in addition to halting the train of negativity, positive gossiping can also elevate the social standing and perception of the person being discussed. 

 

3. Share Smiles: Even If They’re False!

We tend to smile when we’re happy. And as both science and my own experiment showed, smiling can spark feelings of trustworthiness and happiness in those who witness it as well. 

However, a recent collaborative study published in Nature Human Behavior found that even posed smiles can make us happier as well. This concept, known as the ‘facial feedback hypothesis,’ suggests that recreating the facial features resembling a smile – even when you don’t genuinely feel joyful – actually signals your brain to generate more positive emotions like cheerfulness. A small gesture, if you think about it, with a surprisingly impactful pay-off – both for yourself and others.

Share a smile and see that happiness is contagious!

 

4. Offer Moral Support

People often feel isolated when left to deal with challenges and difficult situations on their own. Offering support to someone going through a rough patch can be a powerful way to spread happiness.

You don’t need to go out of your way – a bit of compassion and empathy can make a big difference. Fully listening to a friend or colleague without judgment, being mindful of a loved one’s needs during tough times, offering a shoulder to lean on, or volunteering your time to help can lighten their burden and provide comfort.

 

5. Nurture Yourself First

Indeed, we now know that positivity is contagious. However, you can only spread the cheer when you genuinely feel good yourself. Research shows that even short breaks can help restore attention and improve cognitive performance. So, take time out to pause and reflect. Think of it as checking in with yourself. 

 

Assess if your habits and choices still align with your goals and if they’re helping you create a life of joy and purpose. Resist the urge to judge yourself too harshly. Instead, celebrate the progress you’ve made so far and how close you are to building a meaningful, purpose-filled life that you’ve envisioned.

 

Takeaway: Yes, Happiness is Contagious

Indeed, happiness isn’t just a personal experience, but a social one, given that happiness can ripple through our social circles, influencing our friends, family members, and even strangers. As the old saying goes, “Laugh and the world laughs with you.” 

When you align your life choices with your values and follow your bliss, your emotional well-being can uplift others around you. By intentionally prioritizing your well-being, you’re not just nurturing yourself but playing an active role in creating a joyful, kinder world. ●
shutterstock/View Apart, shutterstock/Jlco Julia Amaral, shutterstock/PICHES KANTHAWONG

 

Written by Sonia Vadlamani

Fitness and healthy food blogger, food photographer and stylist, travel-addict and future self journaler. Sonia loves to write and has resolved to dedicate her life to revealing how easy and important it is to be happier, stronger and fitter each day. Follow her daily pursuits at FitFoodieDiary or on Instagram.