Do you know why you're stressed? It's contagious!

It’s not just infection that gets passed around; our moods alter based on how people around us behave. Believe it or not, emotions are actually contagious, at least for a few minutes or a couple of hours.

Science says that we often mimic other people’s body language and as a result, we experience their emotions, whether it is joy, sadness, fear or anger.  These are the most common emotions that people experience.

Happiness

Ever heard anyone say, your energy is infectious? Well, this is true when it comes to spreading joy. According to a study conducted by Harvard and University of California, neighbours and even friends who live within the same radius as a happy person are likely to be happy. The study found that $5000 increased happiness quotient by 2 per cent whereas a joyful friend could increase it by 10 per cent.

Stress

Your stress could become viral not just in your immediate vicinity but via email, text messages or through social media. As human beings, we are more prone to experiencing negative emotions and our general feeling of fear could be imprinted on others.

Negative Thinking

Young people must be extremely careful of those who could dent their world view. Negative thinking has a much more lasting effect on people and in some cases; it also reflects the general mood of the group.  For instance, a study by University of Notre Dame, USA found that roommates reflected “negative thinking” of one another for three months.

Loneliness

The feeling of being alone can put someone in a terrible place and unfortunately, this emotion is quite contagious. Social butterflies tend to feel lonelier whenever they hang out with people who experience this emotion. In fact, women experience loneliness much more often than men do.

• emotional contagion
• contagious emotions
• anger and fear