Trying to be happier really can work: Two experimental studies
Ferguson and Sheldon, The Journal of Positive Psychology 8(1), 2013, 23-33. Study 1: 12 minutes of music, one group asked to try to boost mood, the other simply listened; the trying group reported higher positive mood with a positively toned piece but not with another piece. Study 2: five laboratory visits over two weeks with music; those instructed to try to become happier showed rising subjective happiness. Five visits, two weeks, 12 minutes.
Ferguson and Sheldon, The Journal of Positive Psychology 8(1), 2013, 23-33. Study 1: 12 minutes of music, one group asked to try to boost mood, the other simply listened; the trying group reported higher positive mood with a positively toned piece but not with another piece. Study 2: five laboratory visits over two weeks with music; those instructed to try to become happier showed rising subjective happiness. Five visits, two weeks, 12 minutes.
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Ferguson, Y. L., & Sheldon, K. M. (2013). Trying to be happier really can work: Two experimental studies. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(1), 23-33. doi:10.1080/17439760.2012.747000 https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.747000