[The Science of Smiling: Can Fake Smiles Really Make You Feel Happier?]-[Smile Like You Mean It!: The Science of Smiling (12/5/22)]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2022-12-05

📋 Summary

The Science of Smiling: Exploring the Facial Feedback Hypothesis

In this episode of Wow in the World, hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz take a lighthearted yet scientific dive into the "science of smiling." Inspired by a study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, the duo explores whether the act of smiling can physically influence our emotional state—a concept known as the "facial feedback hypothesis."

The Facial Feedback Hypothesis

As Mindy explains, the facial feedback hypothesis is the "educated guess" that our emotional experiences are partially determined by the physical sensations in our bodies. The core question posed by researchers, including Dr. Nicholas Coles from Stanford University, is whether the mind-body connection works in both directions: just as feeling happy makes us smile, can forcing a smile make us feel happier?

To investigate this, researchers conducted a massive study involving 3,878 participants from around the world, testing whether voluntary facial expressions could alter internal moods. The study sought to determine if the muscles in our cheeks, mouths, and eyes could trigger a positive shift in emotion.

Putting Science to the Test

To test this hypothesis, Mindy and Guy Raz conducted their own experiment with their friends—Dennis, Thomas Fingerling, and Grandma G-Force—at a photography studio. They utilized three techniques identified in the research:

The Pen Technique: Participants were asked to hold a pen sideways between their teeth without letting their lips touch it, forcing the mouth into a smile shape.
Mimicry: Participants were asked to mimic the facial expressions of a smiling person, which helped them engage the specific muscles associated with genuine happiness.
Muscle Activation: Participants were coached to move the corners of their lips toward their ears and lift their cheeks using only their face muscles.

Findings and Observations

The results were, as Mindy described, "pretty bonker balls." While the pen technique proved less effective—likely because it failed to create a "genuine smile"—the other two methods showed significant results. Dennis and Thomas Fingerling reported feeling a genuine shift in their mood after forcing their faces into smiles, suggesting that the physical act of smiling can indeed bridge the gap between body and mind.

This experiment highlights the fascinating, observable connection between our physical expressions and our psychological well-being. By engaging the facial muscles, we may be able to nudge our brains toward a more positive state. As the episode concludes, Mindy jokes about testing the opposite—furrowing her eyebrows to see if it makes her feel angry—reminding listeners that while science can be serious, the "wows" of the world are often found in the most playful experiments.

🎯Key Sentences

It's going to be a November to remember.

But for now, let's get on with the show.

I feel like I haven't been to the mall in such a long time.

I just read this new research that suggests that even fake smiles can make us feel happier.

Where in the world did he find a rascal's scooter?

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📝Key Phrases

music to your ears

get on with the show

hold on a sec

there's no such thing as

pop into

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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.

Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.

Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.

And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,

And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.

Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

Or study on the web version →