The hidden power of smiling | Ron Gutman

Summary

This inspiring talk explores the power of smiling, revealing it as a natural superpower. From longitudinal studies predicting life success and well-being through smiles, to research showing smiles' impact on health and longevity, the speaker demonstrates how smiling is not just an expression of joy but also a catalyst for personal and communal happiness. The contagious nature of smiles, their evolutionary significance, and the physical benefits they provide make a compelling case for embracing this simple act to enhance life quality.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker's childhood dream was to be a superhero with superpowers to save the world and make everyone happy.
• 🔍 They initially sought superpowers through imaginary journeys and science fiction, but later turned to real science for answers.
• 📚 A UC Berkeley study found that the way students smiled in their yearbook photos could predict the success and well-being of their future lives.
• 😁 Smiling is a universal human expression, even observed in babies and across different cultures, including the Fore tribe in Papua New Guinea.
• 👶 Babies are born with the ability to smile, and even blind babies smile in response to the sound of the human voice.
• 😊 The contagious nature of smiles is supported by research showing that it's difficult to frown when looking at someone who is smiling.
• 🧬 Charles Darwin's facial feedback response theory suggests that the act of smiling can actually make us feel better, not just a result of feeling good.
• 🧠 Smiling stimulates the brain's reward mechanism, with studies suggesting it can be as pleasurable as eating chocolate or receiving a large sum of money.
• 💪 Smiling can have health benefits, reducing stress hormones and increasing mood-enhancing hormones, and even lowering blood pressure.
• 🏆 Smiling not only makes you appear more likable and courteous but also more competent, according to a study by Penn State University.
• 💡 The speaker concludes that smiling is a superpower that can lead to a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood dream and how did they initially try to achieve it?

The speaker's childhood dream was to become a superhero and save the world. They initially tried to achieve this by embarking on imaginary journeys to find intergalactic objects from planet Krypton.

What did the speaker discover about the correlation between smiles and life outcomes in a UC Berkeley study?

In the UC Berkeley study, researchers found that by measuring the students' smiles from yearbook photos, they could predict the success and well-being of their marriages, their scores on standardized tests of well-being, and how inspiring they would be to others.

What surprising discovery was made about the lifespan of Major League baseball players based on their smiles in pre-1950s baseball cards?

The Wayne State University research project found that the span of a player's smile in their baseball card photo could predict their lifespan. Players who didn't smile lived an average of 72.9 years, while those with beaming smiles lived almost 80 years on average.

How do babies demonstrate the universality of smiling even before birth?

Using 3D ultrasound technology, it has been observed that developing babies appear to smile even in the womb, indicating that smiling is a fundamental human expression.

What did the speaker learn about the contagious nature of smiling from a study at Uppsala University in Sweden?

The Uppsala University study found that it's very difficult to frown when looking at someone who smiles because smiling is evolutionarily contagious and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles.

How does mimicking a smile help us understand the emotional state of the person who is smiling?

Mimicking a smile and experiencing it physically helps us discern whether the smile is genuine or fake, allowing us to better understand the emotional state of the person smiling.

What did the University of Clermont-Ferrand study in France reveal about the ability to judge genuine smiles when the facial muscles are suppressed?

The study showed that when subjects held a pencil in their mouths to suppress their smiling muscles, their ability to judge whether a smile was real or fake was impaired, indicating the importance of facial mimicry in understanding smiles.

What is the facial feedback response theory proposed by Charles Darwin, and how does it relate to smiling?

The facial feedback response theory by Charles Darwin suggests that the act of smiling itself makes us feel better, rather than being merely a result of feeling good.

How does smiling stimulate the brain's reward mechanism according to a British study?

The British study found that one smile can generate the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate, indicating that smiling is a powerful activator of the brain's reward system.

What are the health benefits of smiling as discussed in the script?

Smiling can help reduce the levels of stress-enhancing hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, and dopamine, increase the levels of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphins, and reduce overall blood pressure.

How does smiling impact one's appearance and perception by others according to a study at Penn State University?

The study at Penn State University found that smiling not only makes a person appear more likable and courteous but also more competent.

Outlines

00:00

😀 The Power of a Smile

The speaker reminisces about childhood dreams of becoming a superhero and the search for superpowers. They transition to real science, highlighting a UC Berkeley study that linked smiles to successful and fulfilling lives. The speaker humorously notes former President Obama's smile as a 'superpower' and discusses research showing the lifespan correlation between smiles and life expectancy in baseball players. The innate ability to smile from birth and across cultures is emphasized, along with the contagious nature of smiling and its evolutionary benefits. The summary concludes with a study from Uppsala University, Sweden, explaining the difficulty of frowning when others are smiling due to its contagious effect on our facial muscles.

05:01

😁 The Neurological and Health Benefits of Smiling

This paragraph delves into the neurological effects of smiling, referencing Charles Darwin's facial feedback response theory which posits that the act of smiling can improve our mood. A German study using fMRI supports this theory, showing that smiling influences the brain's emotional processing. The speaker amusingly compares the brain stimulation from smiling to the pleasure of eating chocolate and receiving a significant amount of money. They also discuss the health benefits of smiling, such as reducing stress hormones and increasing endorphins, which can lead to a healthier life. A Penn State University study is cited to illustrate how smiling enhances perceived competence and likability. The speaker ends with an encouraging message to smile as a means to unlock a 'superpower' that promotes a longer, healthier, and happier life.

Keywords

💡Superhero

A superhero is a character, often from comic books or fiction, possessing extraordinary abilities and often fighting for justice. In the video, the speaker starts with the childhood dream of becoming a superhero to save the world, which sets the stage for the exploration of 'superpowers' that can be found in real life.

💡Superpowers

Superpowers generally refer to extraordinary abilities beyond normal human capabilities. The video uses the concept of superpowers metaphorically to introduce the idea that certain natural human behaviors, like smiling, can have profound positive effects on our lives, which are akin to having superpowers.

💡Smile

A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles around the mouth. The video emphasizes the smile as a universal human expression associated with joy and satisfaction. It is highlighted as a simple yet powerful 'superpower' that can predict success, well-being, and even longevity.

💡Longitudinal study

A longitudinal study is a type of research that involves observing the same variables over a long period. The video references a UC Berkeley study that used photos from yearbooks to predict students' future success and well-being, illustrating how smiles can be an indicator of a fulfilling life.

💡Well-being

Well-being refers to the state of being happy, healthy, and prosperous. The video discusses how the act of smiling can be correlated with measures of well-being, suggesting that smiling is not just an expression of happiness but can also contribute to it.

💡Contagious

Contagious describes something that can be easily transmitted from one person to another. In the context of the video, the speaker explains that smiling is evolutionarily contagious, meaning that seeing someone else smile can make us involuntarily smile and feel better.

💡Facial feedback response theory

The facial feedback response theory posits that facial expressions can influence our emotions. Charles Darwin's theory, mentioned in the video, suggests that the physical act of smiling can actually make us feel happier, not just reflect happiness.

💡Botox

Botox is a substance used in cosmetic procedures to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by paralyzing facial muscles. The video cites a study where Botox was used to suppress smiling muscles, and the findings supported the idea that facial expressions can affect our emotional state.

💡Endorphins

Endorphins are hormones in the brain that act as natural painkillers and create feelings of happiness. The video explains that smiling can increase the level of endorphins, contributing to an enhanced mood and overall sense of well-being.

💡Cortisol

Cortisol is a hormone associated with stress. The video mentions that smiling can help reduce the level of stress-enhancing hormones like cortisol, thereby having a positive impact on our health and emotional state.

💡Competence

Competence refers to the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. The video concludes with a study from Penn State University that suggests smiling not only makes a person appear more likable but also more competent, highlighting the social benefits of this simple act.

Highlights

Childhood dream of becoming a superhero with superpowers to save the world and make everyone happy.

Imaginary journeys to find superpowers from planet Krypton as a child.

Turning to real science for useful truth after realizing science fiction wasn't a source of superpowers.

UC Berkeley 30-year longitudinal study measuring success and well-being through students' smiles.

Smile measurements could predict fulfilling marriages, well-being scores, and inspiring impact on others.

Barry Obama's picture in a yearbook and the realization that his 'superpowers' came from his smile.

Wayne State University research linking the span of a baseball player's smile to the span of his life.

Players with beaming smiles lived longer than those who didn't smile in their pictures.

Babies are born smiling, as seen through 3D ultrasound technology.

Blind babies smile to the sound of the human voice, showing the universality of smiling.

Smiling is a basic, biologically uniform expression across different cultures.

Paul Ekman's study in Papua New Guinea finding similar smile interpretations across cultures.

Smiling's contagious nature and its evolutionary purpose to suppress facial muscle control.

Uppsala University study on the difficulty of frowning when looking at a smiling person.

Mimicking a smile helps us understand the emotional state of the person smiling.

University of Clermont-Ferrand study on smile mimicry and its impact on judging genuine smiles.

Charles Darwin's facial feedback response theory suggesting smiling makes us feel better.

German fMRI study supporting Darwin's theory on facial feedback modifying neural processing of emotions.

Smiling stimulates the brain reward mechanism more than chocolate.

British research equating one smile to the pleasure of 2,000 bars of chocolate or £16,000 in cash.

Smiling's health benefits in reducing stress hormones and increasing mood-enhancing hormones.

Penn State University study on smiling making a person appear more likable, courteous, and competent.

Encouragement to smile as a superpower for a longer, healthier, happier life.

Transcripts

When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero.

I wanted to save the world and make everyone happy.

But I knew that I'd need superpowers to make my dreams come true.

So I used to embark on these imaginary journeys

to find intergalactic objects from planet Krypton,

which was a lot of fun, but didn't yield much result.

When I grew up and realized

that science fiction was not a good source for superpowers,

I decided instead to embark on a journey of real science,

to find a more useful truth.

I started my journey in California,

with a UC Berkeley 30-year longitudinal study

that examined the photos of students in an old yearbook,

and tried to measure their success and well-being throughout their life.

By measuring the students' smiles,

researchers were able to predict

how fulfilling and long-lasting a subject's marriage would be,

(Laughter)

how well she would score on standardized tests of well-being,

and how inspiring she would be to others.

In another yearbook, I stumbled upon Barry Obama's picture.

When I first saw his picture,

I thought that his superpowers came from his super collar.

(Laughter)

But now I know it was all in his smile.

Another aha! moment came from a 2010 Wayne State University research project

that looked into pre-1950s baseball cards of Major League players.

The researchers found that the span of a player's smile

could actually predict the span of his life.

Players who didn't smile in their pictures

lived an average of only 72.9 years,

where players with beaming smiles

lived an average of almost 80 years.

(Laughter)

The good news is that we're actually born smiling.

Using 3D ultrasound technology,

we can now see that developing babies appear to smile,

even in the womb.

When they're born, babies continue to smile --

initially, mostly in their sleep.

And even blind babies smile

to the sound of the human voice.

Smiling is one of the most basic, biologically uniform

expressions of all humans.

In studies conducted in Papua New Guinea,

Paul Ekman, the world's most renowned researcher on facial expressions,

found that even members of the Fore tribe,

who were completely disconnected from Western culture,

and also known for their unusual cannibalism rituals,

(Laughter)

attributed smiles to descriptions of situations

the same way you and I would.

So from Papua New Guinea

to Hollywood

all the way to modern art in Beijing,

we smile often,

and use smiles to express joy and satisfaction.

How many people here in this room smile more than 20 times per day?

Raise your hand if you do.

Oh, wow.

Outside of this room,

more than a third of us smile more than 20 times per day,

whereas less than 14 percent of us smile less than five.

In fact, those with the most amazing superpowers are actually children,

who smile as many as 400 times per day.

Have you ever wondered why being around children,

who smile so frequently, makes you smile very often?

A recent study at Uppsala University in Sweden

found that it's very difficult to frown when looking at someone who smiles.

You ask why?

Because smiling is evolutionarily contagious,

and it suppresses the control we usually have on our facial muscles.

Mimicking a smile and experiencing it physically

helps us understand whether our smile is fake or real,

so we can understand the emotional state of the smiler.

In a recent mimicking study

at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France,

subjects were asked to determine whether a smile was real or fake

while holding a pencil in their mouth to repress smiling muscles.

Without the pencil, subjects were excellent judges,

but with the pencil in their mouth --

when they could not mimic the smile they saw --

their judgment was impaired.

(Laughter)

In addition to theorizing on evolution in "The Origin of Species,"

Charles Darwin also wrote the facial feedback response theory.

His theory states that the act of smiling itself actually makes us feel better,

rather than smiling being merely a result of feeling good.

In his study, Darwin actually cited a French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne,

who sent electric jolts to facial muscles to induce and stimulate smiles.

Please, don't try this at home.

(Laughter)

In a related German study,

researchers used fMRI imaging to measure brain activity

before and after injecting Botox to suppress smiling muscles.

The finding supported Darwin's theory,

by showing that facial feedback

modifies the neural processing of emotional content in the brain,

in a way that helps us feel better when we smile.

Smiling stimulates our brain reward mechanism

in a way that even chocolate --

a well-regarded pleasure inducer --

cannot match.

British researchers found that one smile

can generate the same level of brain stimulation

as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate.

(Laughter)

Wait --

The same study found that smiling is as stimulating

as receiving up to 16,000 pounds sterling in cash.

(Laughter)

That's like 25 grand a smile.

It's not bad.

And think about it this way:

25,000 times 400 --

quite a few kids out there feel like Mark Zuckerberg every day.

(Laughter)

And unlike lots of chocolate,

lots of smiling can actually make you healthier.

Smiling can help reduce the level of stress-enhancing hormones

like cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine,

increase the level of mood-enhancing hormones like endorphins,

and reduce overall blood pressure.

And if that's not enough,

smiling can actually make you look good in the eyes of others.

A recent study at Penn State University found that when you smile,

you don't only appear to be more likable and courteous,

but you actually appear to be more competent.

So whenever you want to look great and competent,

reduce your stress or improve your marriage,

or feel as if you just had a whole stack of high-quality chocolate

without incurring the caloric cost,

or as if you found 25 grand in a pocket of an old jacket you hadn't worn for ages,

or whenever you want to tap into a superpower

that will help you and everyone around you

live a longer, healthier, happier life,

smile.

(Applause)