A lot can be learned from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813), one of which is why it is important to smile: Mr. Bingley, who puts on a more agreeable face, is received well by the people of Netherfield Park whereas Mr. Darcy, who doesn't, is spurned. The science behind why Mr. Bingley experiences more social success than Mr. Darcy is explained in Marianne LaFrance's Why Smile? The Science Behind Facial Expressions (2011).LaFrance draws on the work of latest research in biology, psychology, sociology anthropology, computer science--and even quotes various works of literature--to shed light on the effects of putting on a happy face. Why Smile? is organized into three sections (Life, Lies, Loyalty), in which, through extensive research and engaging writing style, LaFrance explains the complexity of smiles.
[Smiles] are consequential--they affect what others feel and do...they are indispensable to physical health, psychological well-being, and social visibility....[A smile] is a social magnet, a trustworthiness meter, a device for diffusing anger, a patch for repairing interpersonal bonds, and lubricant for keeping social ties in good working order.While I enjoyed all that I learned from this book, the sections dealing with the effects of depressed caregivers on infants was the most fascinating to me. LaFrance explains that newborns are naturals at mimicry, as it is the means by which they begin to make sense of the world and socialize. Mothers who are depressed are less likely to smile and less likely to mirror or respond to their baby's cooing. As such, these babies become "fussier, and drowsier, and show less contentment than infants whose mothers are not depressed."
It seems as if there's also a higher chance of such children becoming depressed themselves in life, as well as to become less able to regulate their emotions and to develop fewer social skills. Interestingly, new research suggests that there's a higher incidence of mental health problems among children whose fathers suffer from postpartum depression regardless of the mother's mental health. That's because a father's depression casts a greater shadow on the whole family.
Other useful bits of information from the book include the following:
- Smiles do not necessarily reflect how a person is really feeling but may simply be a way to gain approval or confirm membership into a group. This means that smiles come with certain expectations in maintaining social order based on class, power, sex, etc.. For example, LaFrance states that "When women don't smile or men smile too much, they risk being booed off the social stage."
- Politicians' polish of their public smiles began in "earnest" with FDR.
- Smiles do not come in a one-size-fits-all or means-the-same-everywhere model. Smiles take on the meaning and shape of the culture in which they are produced. So traveling to other countries, don't assume that another person's smile (or even your own), is communicating what you think it communicates in your own culture. For example, in many Asian countries, a smile doesn't reflect the person's actual emotions or what s/he is covering up but rather a message about how s/he wants others to feel.
- The concept of putting on a smiling face is a relatively new. It took flight in the 20th century. Kodak may have begun the shift in social norms with the invention of the camera for the amateur photographer.
- Those who smile more live longer.
Well-researched and conveyed through an interdisciplinary approach, Why Smile? is a satisfying (though not necessarily compelling) read that is well worth your time.
NOTE: The book was originally published in 2011 under the title, Lip Service: Smiles in Life, Death, Trust, Lies, Work, Memory, Sex, and Politics.
Comments
Post a Comment