Second That Emotion

Germs aren’t the only contagious things out there – a lot of behavior is too...

A lot of behavior is contagious – laughing, crying, and even yawning – but some more serious behavior is catching too. Nicholas A. Christakis, author of “Connected,” says people whose family or friends are obese are 25% more likely to have a weight problem themselves. Divorce was another biggie. Married couples whose close friends get divorced are far more likely to wind up single themselves.

Most emotional behavior requires spending physical time with someone to rub off – but other behavior such as smoking or drinking can be contagious between friends who are hundreds of miles apart.