Abstract
Both viruses and moods are transmitted through interpersonal contacts, but it has been extremely difficult to track each unique chain of contacts through which particular moods diffuse. By analyzing 56,060 contact records from 113 interlocking, yearlong diaries collected through a web-based platform in Taiwan, we traced mood states before and after each specific contact along a triplet of persons where B contacts C and subsequently contacts A. Multilevel analyses show that both positive and negative emotions are contagious, but the two paths diverge markedly in how the diffusion stops. Positive contact between C and B (which leads to improved mood for B) spreads to A through B’s contact with A, making A feel better afterward, regardless of whether B’s mood deteriorated between the two interactions. Negative contact between C and B (which leads to worsened mood for B) also spreads to A, making A feel worse after the contact with B. However, the spread of a negative mood discontinues if B’s mood improved between the two contacts. The different patterns of diffusion suggest that a negative mood is harder to disperse, probably because people generally make efforts to keep their negative emotions from spreading to others.
Highlights
Both viruses and moods are transmitted through interpersonal contacts, but it has been extremely difficult to track each unique chain of contacts through which particular moods diffuse
As the risk of getting the flu increases if one comes into contact with an infected person, we propose that the chances of mood change increase when one comes into contact with another person who changed moods during a previous contact with a third person
To better distinguish how personal moods spread from C to B to A, to be more specific, we examined the effects of both A’s and B’s moods at different stages
Summary
Both viruses and moods are transmitted through interpersonal contacts, but it has been extremely difficult to track each unique chain of contacts through which particular moods diffuse. The spread of personal moods can differ in pace and efficiency by emotional valence[5], the relations between the persons[5,6], and the social context surrounding an interpersonal contact Because both viruses and moods are transmitted from person to person through specific contacts, it is essential to explore the patterns and paths of flu infection and mood contagion by identifying interpersonal connections and tracking each unique contact through which the virus or specific mood transmits. Based on such a contact-based approach of social network studies, we aim to use contact tracing from interconnected contact diaries to show how moods spread, or what we call mood contagion, along the chains of personal networks. Using “contact” as the unit to trace mood changes, our analysis includes the information about ties and individuals embedded in Scientific Reports | (2022) 12:3400
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