Why small acts of affection may be the key to feeling more loved yourself
A team of researchers has now put the hypothesis to the test. Judging from their findings, Paul McCartney, who wrote those lyrics, was onto something.
The study tracked 52 volunteers, aged between 19 and 65, over four months. They were contacted by smartphone half a dozen times a day and asked to report whether they had expressed love — either romantic or platonic — since the last check-in.
This could include small acts of kindness such as spending time with someone, giving a gift, or using words to express affection. Participants were also asked: 'How much do you feel loved right now?' and responded on a scale from 0, not at all, to 100, extremely. In addition, they were asked about their general happiness and whether they felt they were 'flourishing'.
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