For the Love of FlowersIt seems we have always used flowers for a variety of occasions due to their ability to express and convey emotion, but how did these lovely little plants become such strong cultural symbols across the world? Researchers from Rutgers set out to understand the connection we've forged with flowers - here's what they found. The Proof is in the PetalsResearch suggests that flowers are very powerful mood elevators. Over the course of a 10 month study, they found that receiving flowers as a gift always triggered a "Duchenne smile", also known as a genuine smile, where the mouth, eyes, and cheeks respond truly and positively; it was a rare and compelling 100% response rate. Flowers created an immediate, strong positive psychological response. The same happiness could not be found with receiving candles or fruit baskets. Additionally, the recipients of the flowers were still feeling very positively three days after receiving the flowers, unlike the other recipients. Recipients of flowers reported feeling less anxious, depressed, and agitated in the days following their floral delivery. Flowers undeniably bring joy to those receiving them, but why? Jeannette Haviland-Jones, who conducted the study with her husband, Terry McGuire, compares flowers' effects on people to that of other known psychological boosters: "Somebody asked me, 'Are you saying that flowers are the pets of the plant world?' And that’s probably true: flowers, like pets, help reduce stress. And, thanks to the new field of positive psychology, there’s more evidence that positive emotion is healing and enhances reproductive fitness." McGuire developed a theory that brings evolutionary biology into play. He believes that humans and flowers coevolved together. Humans provide care and a means for reproduction to the flowers in return for good feelings and beauty. He says: "The flowers we didn’t pull up from our food gardens were the ones that made us feel good in some way. We moved from tolerating them to liking them to picking out the ones we really liked and planting them and moving them around." In Our ExperienceOur delivery drivers get the privilege of seeing the surprise, joy, and gratefulness on recipients' faces every day. We can attest to the power of flowers when it comes to healing hearts, proclaiming love, and sending good fortune. Order flowers today to heighten you or a loved one's mental well being! Source: Garisto Pfaff, Leslie. “Flower Power.” Rutgers Magazine, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 2010, ucmweb.rutgers.edu/magazine/archive1013/departments/spring-2010/insights/flower-power.
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