Emotional Contagion Archives - David R Hamilton PHD

Diagram showing action observation in the brain. Colourful image of neurons in the brain and a transparent robotic image of a person's head, where we can see the brain and wires inside. The image is brightly lit with blues, pinks, and purples.

Watch, Learn, Repeat: The Science of Action Observation

By Dr David R Hamilton | July 9, 2026

Unlock the ultimate shortcut to muscle memory. Learn how the science of action observation turns visual practice into real-world physical improvement.

Young woman with dark hair and black cap, wearing a yellow top, khaki green cargo pants and white sneakers, against a purple background. She's a hip hop dancer and is in the air with arms outstretched and leaping.

Stop “Catching” Stress: A Mirror Neuron Trick that Works

By Dr David R Hamilton | July 16, 2025

Your Mirror Neuron System doesn’t just mirror actions. It mirrors emotions.

This means that when you spend time around people who are stressed, anxious, angry, or happy or cheerful… your brain tends to copy them.

cartoon of three characters in a circle, one green, one blue and one yellow with arrows going around the circle from one to another.

3 degrees of contagion – how feelings spread

By Dr David R Hamilton | September 23, 2022

Happiness is contagious. So is depression. Loneliness is too. As is kindness. You can even gain or lose weight because of a change in someone 3 contacts away.

How to deflect negative emotion

By Dr David R Hamilton | January 13, 2022

Here’s a very simple hack for when you feel you’re soaking up other people’s emotions….