A research at Harvard University in the US has proven that happiness is contagious.
Happiness is a less studied human emotion as it is not a treatable problem like sadness or anger. seeing one person smiling activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movement, which leads to a grin.
The term ‘happiness’ can mean different things: a way of thinking, a way of feeling and a way of being.
There a different words that can describe ‘happiness’, for example ‘joy’ or ‘satisfied’. Both has a different meaning depending in what situation you are in, but it will lead back to state of experiencing ‘happiness’.
They have also discovered that the level of Happiness is genetic. This means that if your parents are very positive and happy people, that you probably are as well. However, it may be ‘nature’ that has the largest role in this matter but it can also be brought by nurture. The way we are raised by our parents and the social environment we are in has the power to increase your general level of happiness too.
Your friends, your work, your family, your partner… these are all social factors that has effect on your happiness. Don’t let money, low income, stress and other peoples problem take your smile away. There are far more benefits of having a smile on your face, as it decreases stress levels, releases endorphin’s, you will be more attractive, strengthens your immune system!
How does it become contagious? Well, if you see a person smiling, it activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movements. This causes the responds that you will have smile on your face too. Surround yourself by happy people, get that contagious smile on your face and pass on the happy-fever!
source: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/harvard-medicine/contagion-happiness