Every week, Jo Hemmings, Behavioural and Celebrity Psychologist, will give her analysis on a topical news story, a celebrity scoop or a relevant piece of research in a way that you will be able to relate to in your own lives. As a Relationship Coach, who has counselled singles, couples and celebrities as well as having had regular appearances on TV analysing the behaviour of A-Listers through to reality TV contestants, Jo’s unique psychological spin will have you hooked! You can also find Jo on Twitter.
The psychology of Christmas
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As the big day approaches and this is my last blog of the year, I thought it might be fun to look at the psychology of Christmas. It’s often a time of mixed emotions – we look forward to spending time away from work and with our families, yet the biggest month for relationship counselling is January, when time together with our partners didn’t pan out as expected.
We may love the glitz and glamour of Christmas, but this is often tinged with concerns that we are spending more than we can afford. And for many of us the anticipation of Christmas is actually better than the real thing…
So, let’s look a few light-hearted psychological studies into Christmas and what they tell us about the way we approach and deal with the festive season.
How do we deal with receiving a gift we don’t like?
We may spend a lot of time, consideration and leg work trying to buy the perfect gift for our partner, but studies suggest that buying a gift that is not well-received by our partner leads them to question the similarities between them and can lead to deeper problems within a relationship.
Interestingly, this is a greater problem for men than women. It seems that women react more positively to a poor choice of gift and see little impact on their relationship as a whole, while men consider it to have much more impact for the future of their relationship.
Better to give than receive
Another study reported that the way in which we spend our money, as much as our income itself, is as at least as important in our overall happiness. People who spend money on others experienced greater happiness than when they spent money on themselves.
Christmas sprit
No, not the alcoholic kind, but the overall feeling of well being that we have at Christmas. This study revealed that Christmas spirit actually has five separate components – bonhomie, jolly impulsiveness, ritual, shopping and a bit of dejection. An interesting mix!
Stress at Christmas
Studies have shown that while a lot of us suffer from stress at Christmas, most of us don’t recognise it. Stress factors include tiredness, over indulgence, dread of the office party, spending too much time with too many people, over-excited children and over spending. It’s also affected by Christmas being a nostalgic time, so that missing a loved one becomes that much more poignant.
What does your Christmas card say about you?
And finally, one of my own. A light-hearted look at what your choice of Christmas card says about you.
If you send charity cards…
You have a kind heart and also like to be seen to be supporting good causes.
If you send humorous cards…
Christmas is all about the fun side to you, your diary is probably full of events already.
If you make your own…
Caring and creative, you also like to be seen to stand out from the crowd – and probably pretty well organised to be able to make the time.
If you send luxury cards…
You like to be perceived as generous and probably pretty lavish in your tastes generally.
If you send animal cards…
You have a gentle, caring side and an innocent perspective on life.
If you send cards with a photo of you/ your partner/ your family…
Proud of what you've achieved – but this can make you seem a bit ostentatious to others.
If you send cards that you bought the year before…
Well organised, thrifty and confident.
If you send traditional/nativity cards…
This shows Christmas is a special time to you and you value the tradition that goes with it.
If you send religious cards…
Not necessarily religious, but it shows that you want people to remember what Christmas is meant to represent
If you don’t send cards at all…
Independent thinker who doesn’t want to buy into commercialism or you maybe someone who simply doesn’t look forward Christmas at all
Have a Happy Christmas all!
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