Prompt Cast
The Science of Smiling: How Fake Smiles Can Actually Improve Wellbeing
TLDR Smiling, whether genuine or fake, can have positive effects on happiness and wellbeing. Mimicking a smile, looking in the mirror while smiling, and even receiving Botox injections can all contribute to increased emotional state and overall happiness.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Smiling can be categorized as either a natural or a genuine smile, with the latter being identified by the specific facial muscles involved, as discovered by neurologist Guillaume Duquesne in 1862 through shocking patients' facial muscles.
03:45
Fake smiles, which only involve the mouth and are not connected to any emotion, can actually lead to more positive feelings and a better sense of wellbeing, according to studies from the seventies and eighties.
07:03
Multiple studies have found that mimicking a smile, either through vowel sounds or holding a pencil in a certain way, can lead to increased feelings of happiness and wellbeing, as well as a more positive emotional state.
10:39
Looking in the mirror while smiling can increase happiness because it simulates self-consciousness and allows individuals to confront their change in emotion, according to researchers.
14:11
Smiling can lead to a cooler brain and potentially increase happiness, while frowning can have the opposite effect due to changes in blood flow and temperature in the brain.
17:53
A study found that people who had Botox injections reported less of an emotional response compared to those who received a filler injection, suggesting that facial expressions are connected to emotion and that the inability to produce a facial expression can lessen emotional experience.
21:51
Women are more likely to smile in social situations compared to men, which may explain why women often feel emotionally exhausted.
25:44
A listener shares a bizarre experience of having intense orgasms while experiencing extreme fear and panic during a work webinar.
29:45
The hosts encourage listeners to share their bear encounter stories and promote a campaign to support a listener named Chris who wants to catch up on the podcast.
Categories:
Society & Culture
