An Experiment in Gratitude | The Science of Happiness

Summary

In a quest to explore the science of happiness, Julian Huguet from SoulPancake conducts an experiment on gratitude's impact. Volunteers are asked to write about someone influential in their lives, then unexpectedly call and read their tributes. The study reveals that expressing gratitude, especially through personal communication, significantly boosts happiness, with the least happy experiencing the greatest increase.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The script discusses a study that shows expressing gratitude is a significant contributor to overall happiness in life.
• 📝 Volunteers were given a test to identify their current level of happiness without knowing the true purpose of the experiment.
• 👀 Participants were asked to think of someone influential in their life and write about why this person was important to them.
• 📞 The twist in the experiment was to call the person they wrote about and read what they had written, catching many off guard.
• 📈 The script suggests that expressing gratitude, either by writing or speaking, can increase happiness by 2-19 percent.
• 📉 The increase in happiness was more pronounced for those who were less happy to begin with, indicating a greater impact for those in need.
• 📝 Writing a letter of gratitude was part of the process, even if the call was not made, which still resulted in a happiness boost.
• 🗣️ Making a phone call to express gratitude in person had a more significant effect on happiness compared to just writing.
• 🎥 The video encourages viewers to try this experiment themselves and share their experiences, suggesting a community aspect to the study.
• 🧪 Julian Huguet, in a lab coat, presents the findings in a light-hearted manner, emphasizing the scientific basis behind the happiness boost.
• 📺 The script is from 'The Science of Happiness' by SoulPancake, which seems to be an educational series exploring different aspects of happiness.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the video presented by Julian Huguet?

The central theme of the video is the impact of expressing gratitude on overall happiness, as supported by psychological studies.

What was the initial activity conducted with the volunteers in the experiment?

The initial activity involved giving the volunteers a test where they had to close their eyes, think of someone influential in their life, and write down why this person was important to them.

What was the surprising twist in the experiment that the volunteers did not expect?

The surprising twist was that after writing about the influential person, the volunteers were asked to call that person and read what they wrote to them.

Who did Participant 1 choose as the influential person in their life?

Participant 1 chose their sister, Erica, as the influential person in their life.

What was the reaction of Participant 3 when asked to call their chosen person?

Participant 3 was initially hesitant but eventually agreed to call their friend, Greg Haines.

How did Participant 5's chosen influential person impact their life?

Participant 5's chosen influential person, their college accounting instructor, had a joy and enthusiasm for his job that greatly impacted Participant 5's life.

What was the purpose of conducting a second happiness test after the phone calls?

The purpose of the second happiness test was to measure the change in the volunteers' happiness levels after expressing gratitude to the influential person.

What was the observed increase in happiness for those who wrote but couldn't make the phone call?

The observed increase in happiness for those who wrote but couldn't make the phone call was between 2 and 4 percent.

What was the observed increase in happiness for those who made the phone call and expressed their gratitude?

The observed increase in happiness for those who made the phone call and expressed their gratitude was between 4 and 19 percent.

Which participant experienced the biggest jump in happiness and why was it significant?

The participant who experienced the biggest jump in happiness was the least happy person at the start of the experiment, which suggests that expressing gratitude can have a greater impact when one is going through a tough time.

What is Julian Huguet's final suggestion to the viewers regarding expressing gratitude?

Julian Huguet suggests that viewers should try expressing gratitude, film it, and upload it to them for a chance to do something awesome with it.

Outlines

00:00

😄 The Power of Gratitude

In this first paragraph, the video introduces the concept that expressing gratitude can significantly enhance one's happiness, as supported by psychological studies. The script features an experiment where volunteers are asked to reflect on someone influential in their lives and write about their importance. The twist comes when the participants are unexpectedly asked to call and read their writings to the person they chose, leading to emotional and humorous reactions. The segment showcases a range of personal stories, highlighting the impact of gratitude on the participants' happiness.

05:06

📈 Measuring the Impact of Gratitude on Happiness

The second paragraph delves into the results of the gratitude experiment. After the participants wrote and read their appreciation to the influential people in their lives, they were given another happiness test to measure any changes. The results indicated that expressing gratitude, especially through a phone call, led to an increase in happiness ranging from 2 to 19 percent. Interestingly, the person who experienced the largest increase was initially the least happy. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to try the experiment themselves and share their experiences, emphasizing the potential for greater happiness through gratitude.

Keywords

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation or thanks for something or someone. In the context of the video, it is presented as a scientifically proven factor that contributes significantly to one's overall happiness. The video demonstrates this by having participants write about someone important in their life and then expressing their gratitude to that person, which results in an increase in their happiness levels.

💡Happiness

Happiness, in this video, is the state of being content and satisfied with one's life. It is the central theme around which the entire narrative is built. The script explores how expressing gratitude can influence happiness, as shown by the happiness tests conducted before and after participants express gratitude to someone influential in their lives.

💡Influential

Influential refers to having an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. In the script, participants are asked to think of someone who was influential in their life, indicating the person had a significant impact on them. This concept is integral to the experiment, as the influence of these individuals is the basis for the gratitude expressed.

💡Experiment

An experiment, in this case, is a scientific procedure undertaken to make a discovery, test a hypothesis, or demonstrate a known fact. The video describes an experiment where volunteers are asked to write about and then call someone who has had a significant impact on their life, with the goal of testing the effect of expressing gratitude on happiness.

💡Volunteers

Volunteers are individuals who willingly participate in an activity or undertake a task, typically without payment. In the script, volunteers are the subjects of the experiment, agreeing to participate in the gratitude exercise and share their experiences, which helps to illustrate the video's theme of happiness and gratitude.

💡Express

To express is to convey or articulate thoughts, feelings, or ideas. In relation to the video's theme, expressing gratitude is the act of communicating one's appreciation to another person. The act of expressing gratitude is shown to have a positive effect on the happiness of the participants.

💡Phone Call

A phone call is a conversation between two or more people over a telephone line. In the context of the video, making a phone call is the method by which participants express their gratitude to the influential person in their life. The phone calls serve as a pivotal moment in the narrative, demonstrating the power of direct communication in expressing gratitude.

💡Supporter

A supporter is someone who approves of or champions a cause, activity, or person. In the script, the term is used to describe the influential person's role in the participant's life, as someone who has provided encouragement and backing. This support is a key element in why the participants feel gratitude towards these individuals.

💡Instructor

An instructor is a person who teaches or instructs, often in a professional capacity. In the video, one participant mentions their college accounting instructor as having a significant impact on their life. The instructor's enthusiasm and joy in teaching are highlighted as qualities that inspired the participant.

💡Increase

An increase refers to a rise or growth in quantity or number. In the video, the term is used to describe the improvement in happiness levels experienced by the participants after expressing gratitude. The script provides specific percentages to illustrate the varying degrees of increase in happiness among the volunteers.

💡Impact

Impact refers to the effect or influence of one event on another. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the profound effect that the influential person had on the participant's life. The impact is a crucial factor in the gratitude expressed and the subsequent increase in happiness.

Highlights

Psychologists have scientifically proven that gratitude is a significant factor in overall happiness.

The study suggests that expressing gratitude can improve one's mood according to research.

Volunteers were asked to think of someone influential in their life and write about their importance.

Subjects were surprised with a request to call the person they wrote about and read their thoughts aloud.

The experiment involved a happiness test before and after the gratitude expression exercise.

Expressing gratitude, even without a phone call, increased happiness by 2 to 4 percent.

Making the phone call and expressing gratitude personally resulted in a happiness increase of 4 to 19 percent.

The person who started as the least happy experienced the largest increase in happiness.

The video encourages viewers to try the gratitude exercise and share their experiences.

Julian Huguet, in a lab coat, suggests that expressing gratitude can have a greater impact when one is feeling down.

The video is part of The Science of Happiness series by SoulPancake.

Participants shared personal stories about the influential people in their lives, such as family members and teachers.

The experiment showed that even attempting to make the call, regardless of success, can boost happiness.

The study highlights the power of gratitude and its positive psychological effects.

The video provides a practical application of the concept of gratitude in improving one's emotional well-being.

The experiment's results were retested with mixed-up and rephrased questions to ensure accuracy.

Participants' emotional responses to the gratitude exercise varied, showing the personal nature of the experience.

Transcripts

Participant 1: Shut up [laughs] Participant 2: What? Wait, wait.

Participant 3: Oh he's gonna be so embarrassed.

[title music]

Julian Huguet: What makes you happy? Having fun?

Hanging out with friends? Delicious food?

Making money? Well consider this. Psychologists have scientifically

proven that one of the greatest contributing factors to overall happiness in your life

is how much gratitude you show. Yup. Think about that.

Go ahead and marinate on that for a second. You can thank me later if you want.

It will make you feel better according to this study.

You go ahead and click on it and read it if you want.

Or, you can keep watching because we read it, we thought it might be fun to test out

for ourselves. We gathered a selection of volunteers to act

as our subjects. First we gave them a test.

They didn't know what we were looking for. But they gave us a pretty good idea of their

current level of happiness. We asked them to close their eyes and think

of somebody who was really influential in their life.

Somebody who did something really amazing or important for them.

We had them write down as much as they could about why this person was so important.

Now a lot of them thought at this point the experiment was over until we really put them

on the spot and tried to get them to call that person and read what they wrote about

them. Thank you Jessica. We are going to have to

have you call your mother. So who was that right person for you?

Participant 1: The person is my sister Erica. JH: We're gonna give Erica a call.

Participant 1: [laughs] Okay. JH: Who'd you end up picking?

Participant 3: Friend of mine, Greg Haines. Participant 4: Her name is Dora.

Participant 5: My college accounting instructor. JH: Really! Is this someone you're still in

touch with today? P 5: No I'm assuming that he is passed on.

JH: That's a shame. P5: To the great beyond.

JH: You up for it? P3: Um, uh yes.

JH: What would you say if we called up Dora? P4: We can try but she lives in Britain.

JH: In Britain? P2: I don't know her number by heart, this

is awful. JH: That's fine, I don't know my mom's phone

number by heart. P5: If it's true that those who are gone

on are looking down on us, maybe he'll recognize he is great.

[on phone]: Hi sweetheart! P2: Hey how you doing. Um you gotta second?

Where you at, the hotel? [phone]: I am, I'm in the hotel. You scared

me when you asked if I had a second, I thought something was wrong

P2: No I'm on this little TV show and they told me to talk about the person that influenced

me the most, and I picked you and they're making me call, they're making me call you.

[phone]: Oh wonderful! [phone dialing]

[voicemail]

[phone dialing]

P1: Oh come on. [phone]: Hello?

P1: Hi! Erica, it's me. P2: Alright so I gotta read you this paragraph,

can you hear me? [phone]: Yes I can. Go ahead sweetheart.

P2: Alright. The person that influenced me the most would be my mother, Marlow Dawson.

She is a single mother of two, she is a very hard-worker and dedicated to her family.

P3: Hey Craig, this is Lowy. Um, this is gonna be a funny little voicemail so I hope you

enjoy it. P4: I'm so sorry for calling you at 4 o'clock

in the morning! P1: I have to read this to you okay? You can't

say anything or I don't know. You can respond but, I probably will just keep going [laughs]

okay? [phone]: Is everything okay?

P1: Yes! But I have to read this out loud to you.

P5: The person who has had the biggest impact on my life, outside of Jesus Christ who is

responsible for my existence, was my college accounting instructor. He had a joy and enthusiasm

for his job like no other teacher I have ever known.

P2: I love her to death, and she keeps me going with positive talk, she is a woman that

knows what she wants and won't give up until it is achieved.

[phone]: Oh pumpkin, I don't know what to, I'm about to cry because that's so beautiful.

I have to say that's just wonderful. P3: I first met Craig on an independent feature

film set in Whitefish, Montana. I recently have been sending Craig a lot of positive

thoughts as he suffered a series of health problems. Despite his medical problems, he's

continued to work and take pleasure in the small things in life like sitting quietly

with his wife Jeanine on the porch. P1: Erica is my older sister and my best friend.

Sometimes it even feels like we are twins! She is my number one fan and my number one

supporter. She makes me happy because despite all my mistakes and my decisions, she still

loves me no matter what. P4: Your friendship is everything. And you

are one of the most important person in my life.

P1: Even when she has a kid and many children I will love her more than her kids! Okay,

maybe not. I will never forget when she flew 3000 miles at the drop of a phone call to

save me from a break-up. [phone]: I'm being blessed by having a son

like you. I love you. P3: Bye!

[phone]: Why did you do this to me? P1: [laughs] I don't know because they made

me do it! P4: Thank you for picking up, bye sweetie!

P1: And then they're like here you're gonna write this letter and then I wrote like this

whole long-ass letter which you know I don't write. And then all of a sudden they're like

"hey guess what you're gonna call her and you're gonna read her this letter and it was

like what the [expletive] [laughs].

JH: Before we let them go we gave our subjects

one more happiness test. Now we mixed up and rephrased the questions so they didn't know

they were taking the same test twice. For those who took the time to actually write

something down but couldn't make the phone call for whatever reason we saw happiness

increase between 2 and 4 percent. Good, but not exactly mind-blowing. Now for those who

actually picked up the phone and personally expressed their gratitude, we saw increases

between 4 and 19 percent. So either way! Expressing your gratitude will making you a happier person.

But you want to know something really interesting? The person who experienced the biggest jump

in happiness was the least happy person who walked in the door. What does that mean? That

means if you're having a particularly tough time, trying this out will more likely have

a greater impact on you. Trust me! I'm in a lab coat. In fact, while you're at it, film

it and upload it to us and we'll do something awesome with it. I'm Julian and this has been

The Science of Happiness.

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