Sharing Good News With Others And Receiving Enthusiastic Responses Doesn’t Just Increase Overall Happiness, But Also Makes Us More Grateful, According To New Research
We’ve all received good news before and felt that rush of adrenaline, wishing we could just yell it out for everyone to hear. And if you’ve ever wondered why this urge occurs, it turns out that spreading the word about our joy doesn’t just feel great– it also amplifies the happiness we derive from those moments.
This phenomenon, known as “capitalization,” involves basking in the glow of our achievements by sharing them with those around us.
When we share our positive experiences and are met with excitement and support, it does wonders for us. Research has linked this practice to numerous benefits, from strengthened bonds to increased overall happiness.
But, a new study took this one step further and showed that, by sharing our victories, we can also boost our sense of gratitude.
The study, published in APA PsycNet, included 300 participants between the ages of 25 and 85. To begin, the research team surveyed the participants about various aspects of their lives. They inquired about demographic details, their overall health, the frequency with which they shared positive news, and the typical reactions they received from others afterward.
The questions aimed to determine whether the respondents received enthusiastic or interested responses, had their achievements diminished by highlighting possible downsides or found their positive news was overlooked entirely.
Following that, over a period of 10 days, the participants received six daily prompts from the researchers. These prompts asked them to reflect on their current level of gratitude, the timing of their last social interaction, whether they had shared any good news during that interaction, and whether sharing had influenced their sense of closeness to the person involved.
After collecting this data, the researchers sifted through the findings to identify trends. They discovered that individuals who communicated their positive experiences to others reported feeling an immediate increase in gratitude and a deeper connection to the person they shared the news with.
Plus, those who regularly shared positive news and were met with energetic responses were found to be the most grateful individuals in the study.
Look! – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual people
“When you share positive events with other people, you experience gratitude. We know gratitude has its own benefits, like increased well-being or increased relationship quality with the person you’re interacting with, strengthening your social bond with them,” explained Alexandra Gray, the study’s co-author.
As for how spreading positive news actually fosters a sense of gratitude, Gray claimed that when you articulate your good news, it brings the positive aspects of your life into focus.
On the flip side, Gray also highlighted the significance of receiving a positive reaction to your good news.
These responses can make you feel acknowledged, affirmed, and valued, fostering stronger bonds in your relationships and, in turn, enhancing feelings of gratitude.
The study found that an individual’s physical health had no apparent impact on these outcomes, but age played a critical role. Older adults reported feeling more grateful when they viewed their social partners as generally enthusiastic and supportive in response to their good news.
This tendency could stem from older adults’ inclination to prioritize positive emotions in their social interactions and seek out relationships that contribute to their well-being.
Now, the researchers did not specifically investigate the identities of the recipients of the good news– whether they were family members, friends, coworkers, or romantic partners.
Nonetheless, there is evidence to suggest that conveying positive news to loved ones can enhance positive emotions and fortify relationships.
Conversely, some studies indicate that the depth of the relationship might not play a key role. So, Gray believes that sharing good news with even strangers could potentially amplify feelings of gratitude.
“When sharing good news, it doesn’t really matter who the social partner is; it’s so much more about what kind of responses that they’re providing,” Gray said.
However, cultural factors still might influence the way individuals share good news and the advantages they get from it.
For instance, some East Asian societies might not emphasize the expression of positive emotions as much as Western cultures, possibly due to concerns over appearing self-promotional.
According to Gray, though, newer research suggests that people from East Asian backgrounds do appreciate enthusiastic reactions to their good news.
The study’s participants were predominantly Black and White Americans and recognized the tangible benefits of sharing good news. But, they didn’t do so very often– only in about 25% of the instances they were surveyed.
To delve deeper into this phenomenon, Gray plans to conduct further research that will explore whether individuals might underestimate the positive effects of sharing good news, especially with strangers.
This inquiry also aligns with the broader observation that people often undervalue the benefits of acts of kindness towards others.
“If someone knows that they’re going to have an opportunity to share a positive event with a stranger, they’ll likely be a little apprehensive and maybe think the conversation won’t be comfortable or flow well or be pleasurable,” Gray concluded.
“But I have a feeling that people will be surprised at how much they actually enjoy this positive interaction, even with a stranger.”
To read the study’s complete findings, visit the link here.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Science
