Physical expressions can influence internal emotional states
Physical expressions can influence internal emotional states, according to research examined by Jeanne Tsai, a psychology professor at Stanford University and director of the Culture and Emotion Lab. Older studies on the facial feedback hypothesis show that changing one’s physical expression may alter emotions without requiring an initial external reason to smile. In a classic late-1980s experiment, researchers instructed participants to hold a pencil between their lips while either smiling or frowning during a positive film clip, such as a cartoon. Participants who maintained a smile reported feeling more amused and experienced the physical sensation of smiling more intensely.
When we did this demonstration in class, it worked,
Tsai said, noting that smiling alone in a room removes the element of social interaction, suggesting the action either aids recall or triggers the memory of a positive event that improves mood. At the Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts in Southern California, charter school operators incorporate this concept into daily routines. School documentation states that a smiling classroom culture keeps students relaxed, motivated, and confident while reducing stress levels.
Smiling serves as a tool for managing stress
Dr. Judy Ho, a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist in Los Angeles and a professor at Pepperdine University, utilizes smiling as an additional coping strategy for patients experiencing depression or anxiety. I am not suggesting that this is the only way for them to get through it,
Dr. Ho said. It’s simply an additional tool to add to their toolbox.
According to Dr. Ho, the physical act of smiling can influence cortisol, a hormone regulating stress and mood, alongside neurotransmitters linked to positive feelings such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin.
Data indicates that individuals who smile through stressful tasks exhibit lower heart rates during recovery periods compared to those maintaining neutral expressions. Dr. Ho noted that smiling diminishes specific physiological stress responses in the human body. The underlying mechanism relies on a mediating effect, where sustained smiling eventually generates genuine emotional impacts over time.
Employee Policies and Loss of Emotional Autonomy
Mandated expressions do not consistently produce positive outcomes, as demonstrated by public backlash against retail strategies. Last year, Target faced criticism on social media after implementing a mandatory smile policy requiring employees to smile, maintain eye contact with customers within three meters, and personally greet shoppers within one meter.
In these situations, you find that smiling only leads you straight to misery,
Coles said. Forced facial expressions fail to improve well-being when employees feel coerced rather than acting out of genuine, voluntary intent.
What are the effects of facial feedback?
What specific experiment originally tested the facial feedback hypothesis?
In a classic study conducted in the late 1980s, researchers asked participants to hold a pencil between their lips to force a smile or a frown while watching positive cartoons.
How does smiling affect physical recovery from stress?
Individuals who maintain a smile during stressful tasks typically record lower heart rates during the recovery phase than individuals who keep a neutral expression, according to Dr. Judy Ho.
Target faced backlash on social media last year because its policy required employees to smile, make eye contact, and greet customers within specific distances, which researchers noted removes emotional autonomy.