Smile and better mood can start with a simple trick. Researchers have been trying for years to discover the relationship between facial expressions and human emotions. One interesting experiment in this area was conducted in 1988; an experiment that used a pen to examine the role of smiling in the experience of emotions.
How the Experiment Was Conducted
In this study, participants were divided into two groups. The first group held a pen between their lips, making it difficult for them to smile. In contrast, the second group placed the pen between their teeth; a position that put the facial muscles in a state similar to smiling.
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Then both groups were asked to watch cartoons and evaluate how funny they found them. The initial results were interesting: those who held the pen between their teeth rated the cartoons as funnier. This finding is related to the "facial feedback" theory; a theory that suggests the state of facial muscles may affect our emotions.
The Impact of Smiling on Emotions
However, the answer is not that simple. Subsequent research has not shown the same results, and larger experiments have indicated that the impact of facial expressions on emotions, if it exists, is likely limited and dependent on various conditions. Therefore, it cannot be said with certainty that smiling for five seconds can change one's mood or eliminate feelings of sadness.
Nonetheless, trying a gentle smile, along with a few deep breaths, can be a simple way to pause and pay more attention to your current state. The steps of this exercise include:
- First and second seconds: Relax your forehead and jaw muscles.
- Third and fourth seconds: Give a gentle and natural smile.
- Fifth second: Take a deep breath and pay attention to your feelings.
This exercise helps you take a short pause and see if you experience a small change in your feelings or not. Although this method is not a definitive treatment for anxiety or depression, it can be used as a simple and low-cost exercise.
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