title: Promoting Positive Affect through Smartphone Photography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the increasing quality of smartphone cameras, taking photos has become ubiquitous. This paper investigates how smartphone photography can be leveraged to help individuals increase their positive affect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Applying findings from positive psychology, we designed and conducted a 4-week study with 41 participants. Participants were instructed to take one photo every day in one of the following three conditions: a selfie photo with a smiling expression, a photo of something that would make oneself happy and a photo of something that would make another person happy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 weeks, participants' positive affect in all conditions increased. Those who took photos to make others happy became much less aroused. Qualitative results showed that those in the selfie group observed changes in their smile over time; the group taking photos to improve their own affect became more reflective and those taking photos for others found that connecting with family members and friends helped to relieve stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings can offer insights for designers to create systems that enhance emotional well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, 92697 USA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, 92697 USA.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, 92697 USA.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
keywords: Happiness; In situ study; Mental health; Photos; Positive affect; Positive computing; Smartphones