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A sniff of happiness
Jasper H B de Groot1, Monique A M Smeets2, Matt J Rowson3
1Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University.
Psychological Science
|April 15, 2015
Summary
Happiness can be transmitted between people through body odor, suggesting that chemosignals convey positive emotions. This study shows that scent plays a role in emotional contagion, extending beyond negative feelings.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Olfactory Communication
Background:
- Emotional contagion is well-documented via visual and auditory cues.
- The role of chemosignals in transmitting positive emotions like happiness remains unclear.
- Research on chemosignaling has primarily focused on negative emotions due to survival relevance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether happiness can be communicated through human body odor (chemosignals).
- To explore the involvement of olfactory cues in the transfer of positive affect.
- To address the under-researched area of positive emotion transmission via chemosignaling.
Main Methods:
- Collected body odor samples from individuals in a happy emotional state.
- Exposed receivers to these odor samples.
- Measured receivers' facial expressions and perceptual processing styles.
Main Results:
- Exposure to happy chemosignals induced happiness-indicative facial expressions in receivers.
- Receivers exposed to happy odors exhibited a perceptual-processing style associated with happiness.
- Findings indicate olfactory transfer of positive emotional states.
Conclusions:
- Human chemosignals are capable of transmitting positive emotions, specifically happiness.
- This extends the known function of chemosignals beyond negative affect transfer.
- Odor plays a significant role in emotional contagion and social communication.
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