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If you want to cheer up a friend or loved one, consider giving them a small gift. Research suggests that gift giving may lift their mood faster and more effectively than a conversation. [More]

Ever heard that laughter is the best medicine? Now science backs it up. Researchers at the University of Warwick in the UK have found that both laughter and humor are important tools that can impact wellbeing, particularly in the workplace and in health related settings. [More]

A new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology looked at miscalibrated expectations and how they create a barrier to deeper conversation. “In this research, we wanted to understand why people often engage in small talk in everyday life rather than initiate deeper and more intimate conversations that might strengthen their social relationships,” study author Michael Kardas told us. “We reasoned that people's decisions about what topics to discuss in conversation are guided by their expectations about the likely outcomes of the conversation.” [More]

Although connecting with others increases happiness, strangers tend to ignore each other. It is could be a preference for solitude, assuming that’s the norm, are “too busy” or feel anxious about speaking to a stranger. But these weak ties can have a more positive impact on well-being than people expect and short conversations with strangers can lift our moods. So why don’t we do it? [More]

Feeling and being lonely happens to almost everyone, even people who are normally outgoing and extroverted. People spend their day pretending to be satisfied with their circumstances when really, they feel empty. [More]