18-07-2025
Psychologist says 'emotional contagion' could sweep the UK this summer
62% of people say they feel more hopeful when the nation comes together around a unifying event, with bouts of good weather and major sporting moments particularly potent for boosting national levels of optimism, according to research for the National Lottery.
The arrival of a feel-good summer is timely as the research found only a third of Brits currently describe the overall level of hopefulness in the UK as high, amid macro-economic pressures and geopolitical instability.
Expert and author in positive psychology Miriam Akhtar said: 'Humans are social creatures, so it's natural that shared moments, such as major sporting events, have a significant impact on national levels of hope. Optimism is infectious and like hope, these positive emotions spread through people in a phenomenon known as 'emotional contagion'.
"So, when the country is celebrating a win or enjoying the nostalgia of Oasis playing again, it takes hold nationally very quickly. The broaden-and build theory shows that positive emotions such as hope and joy not only feel good but can actually do us good too, impacting the way our brains function.
"Higher levels of hopefulness give the nation a DOSE of Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins, enabling us to broaden our perspective and think more flexibly and positively. This means that they make us more open to new possibilities that can lead to positive outcomes.'
The National Lottery has unveiled a series of fingers crossed installations to celebrate the power of hope in bringing the country together. The crossed fingers – the universal symbol of hope and optimism - stand at seven meters tall, which represents a meter for each new millionaire The National Lottery makes on average every week. The balloon-like structure has been suspended above landmarks including Natural History Museum, Old Royal Naval College, O2 Arena and Wembley Stadium.
Over a third of Brits say they're more likely to book a holiday when feeling optimistic, while others are more inclined to apply for a new job, or even ask someone out on a date.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners' Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: 'The National Lottery changes lives every day. It's not just the person with the lucky numbers that benefits, it's also the good causes who receive funding and the shop keeper who sells the winning ticket. It all starts with hope.
'We're fully embracing this wave of optimism. For anyone who has their fingers crossed for things to go your way, we hope that seeing our installations brings a renewed sense of optimism and inspires you to believe it could be you.'
The fingers crossed installations will be appearing across the UK in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales over the summer.
