No gift more powerful than a bouquet of flowers
We thought this was true, and now science has proved it
Every day, we give millions of gifts all over the world, to our family, our friends and our partners. According to research at Rutgers University, the gifts we choose say a lot about us. They’ve shown there is no more powerful gift than a bouquet of flowers.
They work with every message
We often send a gift as a way to say "I Love You", "Forgive Me", "Congratulations" or "I Miss You". Whatever our words, flowers are the perfect vehicle for the message. Jeannette Haviland-Jones, researcher and director of the Human Emotions Lab at Rutgers, examined what the gifts we choose say about who we are, and whether they influence how we are perceived. She found that those who give flowers are seen as successful, caring and emotionally intelligent people. That's something to remember, the next time we're picking out a present.
Three flower facts
- People who give flowers are seen as happy, strong, capable and courageous
- Flower givers appear more emotionally intelligent: they give the impression that they know how to express their feelings and can take the time to understand the feelings of others
- They are seen as appreciative of beauty and nature
"Our findings show that the gifts you give can influence and change what people think about you," says Haviland-Jones. "The findings are especially important for people looking to strengthen friendships and romances, but also for business relationships."
Symbolism
If we want to make our gifts even more meaningful, we can take advantage of the language of flowers when choosing stems for the bouquet. Pick gerbera for conviviality, gladiolus for strength and victory, and finish off with peony, the flower that asks us to be kind to each other and count our blessings.
