Moods are contagious

Study proves

Dec 06, 2008
bubble 5 comments
Submitted by: Ginny Deerin

Harvard Medical School follows up on a research study conducted by WINGS nearly 10 years ago!  Ours may not have been scientific but it taught our kids and staff a lot.

At a WINGS summer camp in 1997 we told a story about a bus driver in New York City who spread a good mood to people who got on and off the bus.  This story was made famous by Dan Goleman, author of best-selling book Emotional Intelligence.

After telling the story we took our kids to a water park and gave them an assignment.  Each time they got into the long line to go up to the highest water slide, they were to choose to "be a bus driver" or not.  In being a driver, the child would make a conscious effort to put a good mood out there to the people standing with them in line.  Smiles, comments, etc.  When the kids got down from the slide, our staff would interview them and make notes.  We recorded what reaction each child got as a result of being a bus driver or not.

Our results match those of a the recent medical study published in the New York Times in an article entitled: Strangers May Cheer You Up, Study Says (December 4, 2008.)  Kids who went up the slide displaying a good mood, found that the moods of the people around them perked up in a positive way; and they found when they "turned it off" the moods around them stayed the same - non-interactive, few smiles.

At WINGS, we teach kids social and emotional skills - skills that are essential to success and happiness.  Emotional intelligence includes knowing the power of spreading good and bad moods.  Make sure the kids you love get a good social and emotional education!

Emotional "Pick Me Ups"

On January 12th, 2009 Will Thompson says:
You never know when someone needs an emotional "pick me up." I feel as if I am a pretty good bus driver, and it really shows when someone shares their emotions and tells you how much your smile, nice words, or warm actions means to them. I have seen peoples' demeanors change just by me speaking to them and asking them how they are doing. It may not seem like it means much, but it can totally change a person's day. This especially relates to children. Kids today have many pressures and obstacles, and sometimes these pressures and obstacles can really get them down. Be a bus driver and help create positive energy everywhere you go! It could change lives.

It can be difficult

On December 10th, 2008 Nicole Lovecchio says:
I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am so not a "bus driver" in my everyday life. I can do it at work, I train my staff on how to do it, and I am a believer that it works, but I find it very hard to "spread the joy" in certain settings. I am the neighbor who waves, but avoids conversations. I am the girl on the airplane that nods when you sit down, but quickly opens a book or magazine to avoid having to talk to you. At times, I like this. I hear stories from my mom and sister about how everyone talks to them and I think, I would hate to hear people's stories all the time. I constantly listen to staff and kids complaints at work, so I want to avoid that at home. In reading the article (and seeing a similar segment on the Today Show), I really didn't realize that I might be affecting the moods of others. I probably appear to be rude or stuck up and that's not the image I want to portray. I guess, by avoiding these interactions, I am limiting my own happiness as well. I really didn't think it was a big deal but everyone, including me could benefit from more joy in life. Nicole Lovecchio Program Director WINGS @ Chicora Elementary

Interesting points about technology

On December 10th, 2008 Bridget Laird says:
I often wonder how much e-mail and instant messaging are going to affect our work place. It was interesting that the article mentioned that despite video teleconferencing, people still want to see others in person. I need to rememember this in the WINGS enviroment. It is so much easier an effecient to e-mail or instant message but I need to remember it is important to see each other face to face too. I actually pride myself on being a pretty good Bus Driver but it is hard to be one online!

We're all in this together.

On December 8th, 2008 Liz Mester says:
I love the line in the refrenced NYTimes article: "Emotions have a collective existence — they are not just an individual phenomenon.” What power we each possess. To know that my feelings and emotions don't live in a black hole is incredibly powerful! I don't find this research surprising AT ALL. I have a habit of always talking to strangers in the grocery line or doctor's office (it can actually be a bit annoying for people who are with me) and over the years I have noticed how happy this makes me and then the people I'm talking to usually leave feeling better, too. For example - I was in line at the grocery store this weekend and I was talking to a mom in front of me buying formula for her baby. She was complaining about how expensive the formula was and I changed the subject to her other child, who was a student at Frasier Elementary, downtown. By the time we both left the grocery store we were laughing and I nearly hugged her goodbye! Point being - I was happy to hear her stories and she was probably happy to gripe a little and then laugh it off. And, I noticed that when she left, she was loving on her 8 year-old daughter. Happiness really does spread - I saw it right before my eyes.

Bus drivers make the day fun!

On December 6th, 2008 cristy mccrery says:
It is normal to not want to get out of bed to go to work. From time to time, we would all rather sleep in. But when you work with "bus drivers," and you walk into the office and you're greeted very cheerfully, it starts the day off great, and you forget about how much you wanted to sleep in. WINGS kids sometimes come into WINGS cranky because they have had a long school day, just like adults. But when they come in, and they're greeted by someone who's full of energy, they forget about how tired they are, or how bad their school day might have been. When kids and adults take the initiative to be a bus driver, it makes the day a lot of fun. No one wants to be around a bunch of Eeyore's!