healthbriefs
Shop for Gifts in Pleasant Surroundings
R
ecent research underscores what com- mon sense tells us, that moods, emo-
tions and feelings influence the quality of people’s decisions. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Research confirms that when shoppers are in a positive mood, they make quicker and more consistent judgments than unhappy consumers. The study’s authors manipu-
lated participants’ moods by show- ing them pictures of likable objects (puppies) or unpleasant images
(diseased feet) or asking them to recall pleasant or
unpleasant events from the past. Next, the participants viewed individual pictures of a common object they might consider buying. Finally, they chose from a ran- dom list of evaluative adjectives, both positive and negative. Individuals in a positive state of mind not only responded more quickly
to the adjectives, they also responded more consistently. For example, if they reported liking an object, they were less likely to respond later that they disliked it.
“These results have implications for how we navigate our world,” the re-
searchers reported. “The decisions we make about liking or disliking objects around us are fundamental to which things we approach and which things we avoid.” The bottom line for retailers: Being aware of and avoiding factors that can
induce negative moods—such as abrasive salespeople and unwelcoming shopping environments—can help ring up more sales.
DISH UP SOME PECAN PIE
W
ho doesn’t relish a slice of pecan pie? New research from Loma
Linda University (LLU) demonstrates that naturally occurring antioxidants in pecans may help contribute to heart health and disease prevention. Earlier LLU research showed that a pecan- enriched diet lowered levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) by 16.5 percent. Both studies were published in the Journal of Nutrition.
Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep
happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.
~ Helen Keller
natural awakenings December 2011
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