--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Social scientists and psychologists are…" description: "\"“Social scientists and psychologists are conducting research studies that clearly show that when we behave and act as if we are happy, confident, healt..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg" --- # Social scientists and psychologists are conducting… ![“Social scientists and psychologists are conducting research studies that clearly show that when we behave and act as if we are happy, confident, healthy or in love, we become happy, confident, healthy and in love.” quote by Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg) > ““Social scientists and psychologists are conducting research studies that clearly show that when we behave and act as if we are happy, confident, healthy or in love, we become happy, confident, healthy and in love.”” [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting as if you already possess desired traits can trigger psychological mechanisms that help you actually develop those traits. **In simple terms:** Pretending to have qualities can make them real. Key Takeaway Adopt confident behaviors to foster confidence. Themes self‑efficacy behavioral activation psychology Mood hopeful motivational Type inspirational self‑help When to use this quote - public speaking - social interactions - personal development - mental health therapy Key Concepts self‑perception theory cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - What traits could you start embodying today? - How does this align with authentic self‑growth? A Different Perspective May not work for deep‑seated issues without genuine effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-love/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [But I know too that if we ever make a world without shadow, if the chemists and scientists and psychologists succeed in abolishing fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macdonald-harris/but-i-know-too-that-if-we-ever-make-a-world-without-shadow-if-the/) [MacDonald Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macdonald-harris/) > [What keeps you confident in a healthy way is knowing that everyone else around you is going to support you and teach you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-olsen/what-keeps-you-confident-in-a-healthy-way-is-knowing-that-everyone/) [Elizabeth Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-olsen/) > [The only way to be happy and be a more enjoyable person to be around is to embrace what you've got. Everyone has issues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mischa-barton/the-only-way-to-be-happy-and-be-a-more-enjoyable-person-to-be-around/) [Mischa Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mischa-barton/) > [“... nature did not make us to feel too good for too long (which would be no good for the survival of the species)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/nature-did-not-make-us-to-feel-too-good-for-too-long-which-would-be/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [We have a moral obligation to act happy even if we don't feel it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/we-have-a-moral-obligation-to-act-happy-even-if-we-don-t-feel-it/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [I'm going to smile when I want to cry, act happy when I want to die, laugh out loud when I'm feeling blue, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-going-to-smile-when-i-want-to-cry-act-happy-when-i-want-to-die/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You act happy long enough you'll forget how hurt feels like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitin-patel-aka-needles/you-act-happy-long-enough-you-ll-forget-how-hurt-feels-like/) Nitin Patel aka needles > [I may try to act happy all the time, but on the inside I'm really dying… I need someone to be there for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-baibee/i-may-try-to-act-happy-all-the-time-but-on-the-inside-i-m-really/) Lexi\_Baibee > [You see I found I didn't have to act to be happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irene-dunne/you-see-i-found-i-didn-t-have-to-act-to-be-happy/) [Irene Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irene-dunne/) > [You don't feel like smiling? Then what? Force yourself to smile. Act as if you were already happy, and that will tend to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/you-don-t-feel-like-smiling-then-what-force-yourself-to-smile-act-as/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Act happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/act-happy-feel-happy-be-happy-without-a-reason-in-the-world/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“I have devoted much of my life to studying, writing, and lecturing about the subject of happiness. In particular, I have advocated that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/i-have-devoted-much-of-my-life-to-studying-writing-and-lecturing/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [Act happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world. Then you can love, and do what you will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/act-happy-feel-happy-be-happy-without-a-reason-in-the-world-then-you/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [For some people its easy to act happy. For me,Its some-what easy. I lie to people constantly though. They ask,''Whats wrong?'' I send,''Nothing :D''…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/for-some-people-its-easy-to-act-happy-for-me-its-some-what-easy-i-lie/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [Scripts didn't exist during my time in Bollywood, or, at least, I was never given one. I don't want to act at all and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/scripts-didn-t-exist-during-my-time-in-bollywood-or-at-least-i-was/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) ## More by Cynthia Sue Larson > [“The range of our knowledge of reality is limited by our pre-existing beliefs, assumptions, and expectations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/the-range-of-our-knowledge-of-reality-is-limited-by-our-pre-existing/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“The more attention we pay to the idea that reality shifts, the more we see our reality shift”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/the-more-attention-we-pay-to-the-idea-that-reality-shifts-the-more-we/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“Going beyond our ordinary concept of self is what always brings us the greatest sense of joy in life. Going beyond our own boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/going-beyond-our-ordinary-concept-of-self-is-what-always-brings-us/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“We live in an incredibly dynamic universe that gives us what we wish for, like a waking dream”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/we-live-in-an-incredibly-dynamic-universe-that-gives-us-what-we-wish/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“Quantum jumping is the process by which a person envisions some desired result or state of being that is different from the existing situation—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/quantum-jumping-is-the-process-by-which-a-person-envisions-some/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“Reality shifts occur when we are in a dreamy state of energized awareness in which we are clear about what we prefer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/reality-shifts-occur-when-we-are-in-a-dreamy-state-of-energized/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“What we wish for, dream and imagine is the very framework and foundation of everything we create”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/what-we-wish-for-dream-and-imagine-is-the-very-framework-and/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“Your ability to form a strong intention, to concentrate, and to get and stay focused while feeling detached from concerns of daily life—relaxed, open-minded,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/your-ability-to-form-a-strong-intention-to-concentrate-and-to-get-and/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“Anyone who can relax, clear their mind, and envision being different in some way—such as more successful, funny, healthy, wealthy, or wise—can quantum jump.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/anyone-who-can-relax-clear-their-mind-and-envision-being-different-in/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) > [“The biggest change we can make and the most exhilarating is to change ourselves”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/the-biggest-change-we-can-make-and-the-most-exhilarating-is-to-change/) [Cynthia Sue Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) [Explore all 11 Cynthia Sue Larson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Social scientists and psychologists are conducting research studies that clearly show that when we behave and act as if we are happy, confident, healthy or in love, we become happy, confident, healthy and in love.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cynthia Sue Larson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/social-scientists-and-psychologists-are-conducting-research-studies/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happiness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/social-scientists-and-psychologists-are-conducting-research-studies/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53c/cynthia-sue-larson-38863_happiness_social-scientists-and-psychologists-are_2817613.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Social scientists and psychologists are conducting research studies that clearly show that when we behave…” — Cynthia Sue Larson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Cynthia Sue Larson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-sue-larson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Social scientists and psychologists are conducting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/social-scientists-and-psychologists-are-conducting-research-studies/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-sue-larson/social-scientists-and-psychologists-are-conducting-research-studies/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```