After decades of debate, why forcing yourself to smile will actually make you feel happier 😄 👉 The latest research shows our facial expression can influence our emotions
, walking the dog… I’ve embraced Buddha, joined a band and attempted to empty my mind while emptying the dishwasher. Of all the things I’ve tried, though, there is one thing I’ve hated far more than most – even though it is perhaps the easiest thing of all: being told to smile.meditation
My rage will be instant. Why should I smile? Smiling requires effort. Just let me relax! “That’s right, a great big smile!” And I toss my phone across the room. The study is significant because – believe it or not – psychologists have been arguing over this for years. The debate began in the late 19th century, when the great American psychologist William James proposed that bodily sensations – such as a thumping heart or a sweaty palm – aren’t merely a consequence of our emotions, but may actually cause them.
– the idea that facial movements, such as a smile or frown, influence our emotions, as well as being an expression of them. Participants were asked to look at funny cartoons while holding a pen either between their teeth, forcing them to smile, or between their lips, forcing them to pout. Those in the smile position said they found the cartoons funnier.Perspectives on Psychological Science