There is an unexpected rush that comes with the receipt of a ‘package’ notification. The whispered “what did you get?” from fellow peers when it’s brought up, or the silent thought of “I wonder what arrived” (especially if multiple items were ordered). Or, even better, the “I didn’t order anything”, which sends a thrill of curiosity and potential excitement through your veins. When asked about how how they feel about getting something in the mail, these were answers given:
- Age 16: “If I ordered something, well I feel ecstatic it’s something i wanted” .
- Age 17: “When I get a notification from school saying I have a package, I think ‘finally, it’s about time.’ Now when it’s a letter or something I wasn’t expecting, I’m like ‘Omg a letter!’ And like it’s vintage. There’s something about physical letters you know? More care? So I guess I’m a cross between elated and relieved.”
- Age 18: “I’m always pretty pumped to get mail…until it’s my insurance.”
- Age 19: “Sometimes I’m agitated because now I have to fit picking up a package into my schedule..”
- Age 18 in response to 19: “Well Avalon’s an old lady because I think most people get pretty happy to receive something in the mail”.
- Age 55: “If I know what’s coming, I’m excited because I ordered it; if it’s something unknown for me from someone I know then ‘Yippee!’ “
- Age 58: “Mail is normal everyday procedure, unless it was something I was really excited for.”
According to a broader survey done in 2015: 41 percent of Americans of all ages said they look forward to seeing what’s in the mailbox every day. And in general, 90 percent of people said they love getting personal cards and letters (https://news.gallup.com/poll/182261/four-americans-look-forward-checking-mail.aspx). In theory, they are just pieces of paper, so why do people feel happy receiving these letters? What causes this phenomenon?
Happiness itself is a complex concept to understand. It is influenced by a variety of factors both pertaining to the body, mind and environment. On a neurological level, this state is associated with certain neurotransmitters that trigger joy and happiness in the brain, namely dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins. Dopamine is known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter. It plays a key role in the body’s ‘reward system’. The system revolves around the idea of your body rewarding you for doing things deemed pleasurable. Activities such as eating, socializing, and accomplishing goals can lead to the release of dopamine in the brain, contributing to feelings of happiness. In turn, humans are wired to seek more of that dopamine release because it feels good. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine) According to the the ‘incentive salience’ hypothesis of Berridge and Robinson (1998), “dopamine responds to how ‘wanted’ a stimulus is, which is separate from how much a stimulus is ‘liked’”(https://www-jstor-org.muhlenberg.idm.oclc.org/stable/25098912). This would explain several of the responses in the first paragraph, where respondents noted heightened excitement over things they ordered. Endorphins act as natural painkillers and mood elevators (also known as the ‘happiness hormones’). They are released through activities like exercising and laughter. Serotonin plays a role in mood regulation; low serotonin levels are associated with conditions like depression. Positive social interactions, exposure to sunlight, and certain activities, boost serotonin levels and promote feelings of elatedness. While similar to dopamine, serotonin levels focus on creating/regulating a long-lasting feeling of happiness or well-being. (https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2023/02/dopamine-and-serotonin#:~:text=Feb%2028%2C%202023,of%20happiness%20or%20well%2Dbeing.)
According to the Oxford dictionary, “A letter is a written, typed, or printed communication, especially one sent in an envelope by mail or messenger.” The art of letter writing has played an important part in the world’s history for thousands of years, dating all the way back to circa 500 BC. Letters serve as ways to express emotion and communicate with others near and far- and has led to technological advances in history. Letter writing reached its peak in the 19th century in America and during WW2, letters were used to help boost morale and keep in contact with families, friends and schools. Letters received by troops were described as “ a great comfort. And the mail was indispensable. We couldn’t have won the war without it. It was terribly important as a motivator of the troops. Mail call whenever it happened it was a delight.”Paul Fussell (https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/communication-letters-diaries). Today, people still take joy in receiving letters from loved ones.
While emails have taken the place of formal letters today, there seems to be more of a struggle dissecting emotions from an email than a letter. Kristen Bolt writes that, “In addition to the relative lack of cues, the fact that communication partners are not copresent further complicates the communication of emotion by email by limiting and delaying feedback …Because the delay in feedback restricts the ability of communication partners to resolve ambiguity, the miscommunication of emotion by email may be more likely…” (https://www-jstor-org.muhlenberg.idm.oclc.org/stable/20159399) Rightly, one may insist that the same is true for handwritten letters, given that there is also a delay in feedback. However, when writing letters people tend to become more conscious of another person, the recipient. This influences word choice, order, and expression. In addition by examining an individual’s handwriting, it is often possible to gauge the emotions they experienced while writing the letter. Unlike typing, it is harder to hide emotions. For instance, if someone is angry or frustrated, they tend to exert more pressure with their writing utensil, resulting in bold and dark-looking script (https://www.ignitepost.com/blog/the-psychology-of-handwritten-letters#:~:text=Through%20reading%20someone’s%20handwriting%2C%20you,to%20appear%20bold%20and%20dark). Emails on the other hand, typically have a “neutrality effect” which theorizes that the characteristics of email increase the likelihood of receivers perceiving emails as more emotionally neutral than senders intend.
When asked what form of correspondence means most to them in an emotional sense, 69% of people chose the handwritten letter compared to 17% preferring an email or a tweet.(https://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/letters-still-have-a-place-in-hearts#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20form%20of,highlights%20how%20important%20letters%20feel.) It’s easy to recognize that the convenience of an email, text, or tweet plays into these results. While these are the easier modes of communication, the percentage of people who prefer letters prove the importance of ‘dedication’ to how much they value something. When someone writes a letter, the receiver typically recognizes the time and effort that went into writing the letter, addressing the envelope, and dropping it off for someone to deliver. Like when receiving a ‘thinking of you’ gift from a loved one, people feel special and valued when they receive personal letters. Letters tend to be more intimate, carrying emotions through a preservable medium.
Sources:
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/182261/four-americans-look-forward-checking-mail.aspx
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-change/201501/youve-got-mail
- https://www.penheaven.co.uk/blog/letters-still-have-a-place-in-hearts#:~:text=When%20asked%20what%20form%20of,highlights%20how%20important%20letters%20feel.
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/25098912
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/40972233
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine
- http://www.jstor.org/stable/20159399
- https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/700childrens/2023/02/dopamine-and-serotonin#:~:text=Feb%2028%2C%202023,of%20happiness%20or%20well%2Dbeing
- https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-war/communication-letters-diaries
- https://www.ignitepost.com/blog/the-psychology-of-handwritten-letters#:~:text=Through%20reading%20someone’s%20handwriting%2C%20you,to%20appear%20bold%20and%20dark
