Anger, Compassion, and Happiness as Antidotes for Sadness

Abstract This study examined the relative effectiveness of anger, compassion, and happiness as antidotes for sadness. Although theory and research suggest that each of these emotions can counteract sadness, no research has compared their relative effectiveness. Participants were 184 undergraduates averaging 19 years of age, 53% female and 47% male. Self-report measures of emotion were collected at baseline, after a sadness induction, and after an anger, compassion, or happiness induction (depending on condition). Emotions were induced by having participants recall and write about autobiographical memories. All three emotion inductions significantly reduced sadness, but happiness yielded a significantly greater reduction than compassion or anger, and compassion yielded a significantly greater reduction than anger. With regard to theoretical implications, the findings are consistent with circumplex and script models of emotion, and future studies are proposed for exploring emotion antidotes in terms of these models. With regard to practical implications, future studies are proposed for examining the effectiveness of emotion antidotes using longer-term interventions and with clinical levels of emotional disturbance.