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Intro
Hi guys! My name is Julia and I will be your host for today’s episode. On the 18th episode of A
Pop Of Psych, I will be talking about something everyone does: smiling! As well as the importance of smiling and the underlying psychological impacts of smiling. So let’s dive in.
Segment 1: What is a smile?
To begin, what is a smile?
Well, it was found by a French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne (forgive me if I’m pronouncing his name wrong). He studied laughter and smiling in the 1800s and he found that two facial muscles are engaged when smiling.
One is the zygomatic major which controls the corners of our mouth and we can activate this muscle when we want.
The other is the orbicularis oculi, which controls the area around our eyes. But we can’t activate this muscle at will. That means, only with a genuine laugh or smile, which has now been dubbed a Duchenne smile, are both our mouth and eyes engaged.
However newer research has been showing that smiles are not always caused by pure happiness but instead has become a social cue based on engagement
So in other words, we smile when we are happy and for social necessity.
In the next segment, I will be discussing the impacts of smiling on ourselves, whether they are caused by genuine contentment or just for social engagement.
Segment 2: Impacts of Smiling on Ourselves
Smiles seem like a simple thing. But in reality they have more significant implications that we realize.
Studies show that there are numerous benefits, including boosts in our mental and physical health, better social lives, and even increased lifespans.
I’m going to begin with physical impacts of smiling.
First, smiling afffecs your brain.
Your body actually releases good hormones when you smile.
Some of these hormones include dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which make you feel good when released because these hormones signal to your body that you’re happy, which in turn, makes you feel happier.
Endorphins also act as a natural pain reliever and serotonin can act as an antidepressant. Smiling is a 100% natural remedy and the best part is that you don’t need a prescription.
So in a way, you can trick yourself into feeling happier
This was actually proven in a study.
Researchers discovered that when subjects were asked to bite down on a pencil (simulating a smile-like face), they reported more positive feelings than subjects that were asked to purse their lips around the pencil (more of a frown-like face).
Not only does your body release hormones, the act of smiling activates neural messaging that benefits your health and happiness
Smiling activates the release of neuropeptides that work toward fighting off stress. Neuropeptides are tiny molecules that allow neurons to communicate. They facilitate messaging to the whole body when we are happy, sad, angry, depressed, or excited.
All of these combined not only relaxes your body, but it can also lower your heart rate and blood pressure.
Second, Smiling can boost your immune system.
It can help the immune system function more effectively and it has been thought that when you smile, the immune function improves because you are more relaxed, which is due to the release of certain neurotransmitters.
Now I am moving on to the psychological impacts of smiling.
Like I mentioned before, smiling can help you relieve stress.
Smiling can cool down your stress response by decreasing your heart rate and blood pressure, causing you to feel more relaxed. Laughter also stimulates circulation that helps your muscles relax, which can reduce the physical symptoms of stress over time.
Smiling can make you more approachable.
Research has shown that smiling plays an important role in building strong bonds between individuals as well as deepening relationships.
Smiling increases the percentage of people who will consider you to be more trustworthy
Smiling can make you seem more attractive
As humans, we interpret cues and communications signals from one another constantly. This is further explained in our 15th episode on learning thorough social cues. A smile is one of these cues that is then perceived by others as easygoing, and therefore more attractive. Sometimes it doesn’t take an outfit or a new hairstyle to look good, but just a smile.
Not only can smiling make you more attractive it can also make you look more youthful.
When you smile the muscles you use also lift the face which allows a person to look younger. So instead of paying a bunch of money for a facelift, just try smiling, you will look younger and feel better. Like killing two birds with one stone.
Also, smiling can help you boost your confidence
Confidence is important when making first impressions and during other high-pressure situations. But a smile is a secret weapon everybody can use at all times to induce feelings of confidence. Smiles send the message that you are competent and relaxed, which are both great qualities to demonstrate.
Smiling can naturally boost your creativity
As I have mentioned throughout this entire podcast, smiling boosts happiness. And happiness is associated with greater problem solving and higher levels of creativity. So basically, smiles = happiness = more creativity.
Smiling can help you be more productive at work
Research has been done that showed that the happier a worker felt, the more productive they were. This research compiled results from 3,000 people in 79 countries. The happiest employees were 180% more energized and 155% happier with their jobs. They spent 80% of their week on work-related tasks, compared to the 40% their least happy coworkers spent.
Since many of us spend a good portion of our lives in the workplace, feeling productive and happy is important. Therefore, starting to laugh and smile more at work is beneficial.
Lastly, smiling can lengthen your lifespan
Everything mentioned above may lead to this important point. Those who smile and laugh often may have longer lives than those that don’t.
A 15-year Norwegian study published in April of 2016 found that women with strong senses of humor lived longer than others. In fact, they were 73% less likely to die from heart disease and 83% less likely to die from infection. Men with a better sense of humor seemed to be more protected from infection only, with 74% less risk of death associated with high scores in humor.
Smiling can lead to laughter and laughter stimulates organs. It can enhance your intake of oxygen, stimulate your heart and other muscles and decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. Less stress, better social relationships and a stronger overall feeling of happiness can indeed help you weather the physical effects of aging. In short, the secret to staying young is truly to laugh a lot.
I have just listed some of the physical and psychological benefits of smiling and there are way more. So remember: smile
But not only does smiling affect yourself, it can impact others. In the next segment, I will be discussing the impacts of smiling on others.
Segment 3: Impacts of Smiling on Others
Have you ever heard of the phrase “Smiling is contagious”?
Well, it’s true
“The part of your brain that is responsible for your facial expression of smiling when happy or mimicking another’s smile resides in the cingulate cortex, an unconscious automatic response area. In a Swedish study, subjects were shown pictures of several emotions: joy, anger, fear, and surprise. When the picture of someone smiling was presented, the researchers asked the subjects to frown. Instead, they found that the facial expressions went directly to imitation of what subjects saw. It took conscious effort to turn that smile upside-down. So if you’re smiling at someone, it’s likely they can’t help but smile back. If they don’t, they’re making a conscious effort not to.
Looking at the bigger picture, each time you smile at a person, their brain coaxes them to return the favor. You are creating a symbiotic relationship that allows both of you to release feel-good chemicals in your brain, activate reward centers, make you both more attractive, and increase the chances of you both living longer, healthier lives.”
The impacts of smiling that I have discussed in the previous segment is essentially how much smiling can help yourself and others.
Smiling can make others happier, healthier, create better relationships, and just help everyone in general.
So don’t be selfish and smile for those around you.
Segment 4: How to smile more
The main takeaway of today’s episode is to keep smiling.
There are many things you can try to help yourself smile more, and it may vary on person to person, these are some things you can try
Force it if you must: Since even a fake smile can increase your feelings of happiness, the first step to being happier is smiling even when you don’t feel like it.
Find humor: If you’re feeling down or even just notice that you haven’t laughed in a while, put on a funny movie, read some jokes or seek out a humor boost in any way you enjoy.
Engage with others: We are socialized to laugh and smile more in a group. Make sure you spend time with friends who make you do both regularly.
However, since there is still a pandemic going on, you can interact with others online or by practicing social distancing.
Although it won't be the same, it is better than nothing.
Laugh at yourself: Life is really all about how you approach things. Even if you’re going through hard times, look for the good or the humor. This will positively impact your outlook, your health and your overall quality of life.
In the next segment, I will be joined by Stacey.
Segment 5: Talk with Stacey
Questions
Do you think smiling helps your mood?
Author of “Smile: The Astonishing Powers of a Simple Act” Ron Gutman said, “British researchers found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.”
How have you been keeping yourself happier during the pandemic?
Do you agree that “smiling is contagious”?
Outro
In this episode, I discussed some benefits of smiling and the impact it has on other people. So don't forget to smile.
As usual, please feel free to send in audio messages or requests through our Anchor link.
Also, you can check out the script and resources used on our website, and if you guys have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to visit our website apopofpsych.wixsite.com/psych, that is linked in the description.
Thanks for tuning in and we’ll be back next week with another informative and engaging episode within the next 2 weeks.
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