Forced Smiling Can Backfire, Study Finds
Researchers at the University of Florida discovered that while a single pleasant smile can boost mood, repeated unnatural smiling can lead to misery, especially when combined with financial pressure
A new study has found that forced smiling can have negative effects on a person's mood. Researchers at the University of Florida, led by Professor Nicholas Coles, discovered that while a single pleasant smile can temporarily boost mood, being forced to repeatedly smile unnaturally can make people miserable.
The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, involved 1,174 participants in an online experiment. Participants were shown either pleasant or unpleasant pictures and were asked to either pose a smile or let their faces respond naturally. The researchers found that a single posed smile provided a small lift in happiness when participants were looking at unpleasant pictures.
However, repeating the smile diminished the mood-boosting benefit, and combining repetition with a financial threat erased it. Participants were told they could lose $2 of their $6 payment if they failed to follow instructions, but everyone received the full payment. This financial pressure was used to simulate the pressure of a workplace environment, where employees may be expected to maintain a certain level of customer service.
The study's findings have implications for workplaces that require employees to maintain a certain level of customer service. Professor Coles, who has experience working in customer service, noted that his own experiences contradicted the common belief that forcing a smile can make you happier. The study's results suggest that repeated unnatural smiling can lead to misery, especially when combined with financial pressure.
## Why it matters The study's findings have significant implications for our understanding of the relationship between smiling and happiness. While smiling can have positive effects on mood, the study suggests that forced smiling can have negative consequences. This has implications for workplaces and individuals who may be expected to maintain a certain level of customer service or friendliness.
The study's results also highlight the importance of considering the context in which smiling occurs. While a single pleasant smile can boost mood, repeated unnatural smiling can lead to misery. This suggests that individuals and workplaces should be mindful of the potential negative effects of forced smiling and strive to create an environment that promotes genuine and natural expressions of happiness.
