Have a Hug for Happiness
May 20, 2009 | Posted by bryan | 0 Comments
A hug might be enough to make many people happy – but the reasons behind why this is the case could be more complex than they might initially seem.
Scientists at George Mason University have looked into the things which can affect happiness levels in men and women. Associate professor of psychology Todd Kashdan argues that men could suffer from being taught to hide their “softer emotions”.
He explains that this can result in men being less able to express their level of gratitude when given a gift.
And, if the present is given to them by another man, older males can actually experience negative emotions attached to receiving it.
The findings suggest that expressing emotions in other areas of a person’s life can help them to enjoy receiving gifts.
Indeed, Professor Kashdan goes so far as to list gratitude as one of the best ways to achieve overall happiness.
The professor’s research notes that happiness is not a single emotion, but can be classified in different ways.
On his George Mason University web pages, he explains that hedonia is characterised by satisfaction and heightened positive affect.
But those who are ambitious about their happiness levels could be keen to strive for eudaimonia – in which an individual achieves their full potential.