Daniel Howard, a psychology professor at Southern Methodist University in the United States, conducted an experiment on conversations between pairs of women.
The experiment confirmed that when the speaker is having fun, the listener also becomes cheerful. This is called the “emotional contagion effect.” It means that emotions can infect each other. However, this emotional contagion does not seem to occur only with positive emotions like “joy” and “happiness.” It also seems to apply to negative emotions such as “sadness,” “anger,” and “dissatisfaction.” There are always people who are cheerful, energetic, and full of smiles. Those who are in a good mood, who bring joy to others and are generous, have a certain charm.
Good moods are contagious. Conversely, if someone who is grumpy, lacking energy, and only complains enters the room, the atmosphere suddenly becomes cold and dark. There are also people who do nothing and only demand what they want.
Bad moods are also contagious. Similarly, if a parent comes home from work and only complains and expresses dissatisfaction, the child is less likely to choose that profession in the future. If a parent enjoys their work, the child will aspire to that job. This applies not only in families but also in companies and organizations. There is a saying, “Charm arises from giving and perishes from demanding.” Those who give to others and bring joy have boundless charm. “Good moods are contagious.”