Happiness is contagious, according to social network researchers, and spreads through social groups like an emotional virus. (The Psychologist).
Using 12,000 interconnected people it was found that a person’s happiness level is influenced not only by that of immediate friends and relations but friends of friends, and their friends too, although closer proximity of happy people produced the strongest influence.
Also discovered was that people at the centre of social networks, with more and better connected relationships become happier over time and that the causes of happiness spreading are possibly the contagious nature of smiles and laughter and the tendency for happier people to act more kindly towards those they have contact with.