Laughter, smiling and kindness – their role in emotional contagion.

Sometimes it’s hard to find something to smile about. The news and social media rarely set out to provoke positivity or levity. Kindness seldom makes the headlines. World Kindness Day feels like a good time to think about how smiling, laughter and kindness are linked.

The way in which we choose to present ourselves to others influences the emotional environment we all experience. The phrase ‘smile and the whole world smiles with you’ encapsulates this. Neuroscientists have discovered mirror neurons which help us to learn by imitation. As we see a skill being performed by someone else, our own brain fires in a way which primes us to learn that skill. There is debate about how much the mirror neuron system may be involved in empathy between humans and this is a fascinating, growing field of study.

What is clear is that some behaviour is contagious. Smiles are spread from one person to another. Laughter is catching. When we hear other people laughing, we do not need to know why they are laughing to want to join in. Laughter, smiling, and kindness speak to us at an emotional level. We experience contagion through a process of mimicry and feedback. When we are greeted by somebody who appears friendly and relaxed, we may start feeling calmer too. When someone smiles warmly, we may feel less anxious.

In my experience working in a variety of healthcare settings, the emotional temperature of a department is palpable and affects everyone working and being treated there. A receptionist with a warm manner, a ready smile, and an interest in helping everybody get to the right place at the right time creates a welcoming atmosphere. Clinicians who take care to listen carefully and appear interested in their patients develop a sense of trust and teamwork.

Whilst smiling and laughing are not always appropriate in the delivery of healthcare, kindness is appropriate and welcomed in every situation. Kindness has been defined as ‘an action that benefits another, as perceived by the recipient of the kind action’. Actions such as greeting patients with a smile, deep listening and displaying empathy indicate kindness.

While kindness is often thought of in terms of how actions affect others, it is essential that we extend kindness both inwards as well as outwards. Kindness to ourselves is necessary to allow us to have the resources ready to be kind to others. Dr. Kristin Neff is a leading researcher and writer on self-compassion. Her interest in the subject started when she was on a transatlantic flight with her autistic son and he had a meltdown. She tried in vain to calm him down and when she couldn’t she simply sat on the floor with him and hugged herself, telling herself kindly that this was a very difficult situation and any mother would be feeling anxious and helpless, whilst giving herself a hug. As she herself calmed down, her son calmed down too.

On every flight we are told that we should put our own oxygen mask on before helping others. Looking after our own mental health, treating ourselves with kindness and compassion has to come first. In order to be kind, to listen deeply and show genuine interest in others, we need to be in balance ourselves. Looking after ourselves is an essential ingredient of kindness to others. Only when our own batteries are well charged can we hope to create a positive emotional contagion.

Anna

References

Hake, A. B., & Post, S. G. (2023). Kindness: Definitions and a pilot study for the development of a kindness scale in healthcare. PloS one, 18(7), e0288766.

Klaber, Bob (2022)  https://kindnessinhealthcare.world/index.php/2022/02/28/how-acts-of-kindness-can-improve-care-and-strengthen-teams/

https://kindnessinhealthcare.world/

Neff, K. (2011). Self-compassion: Stop beating yourself up and leave insecurity behind