The hidden power of smiling - Ron Gutman | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Smiling has superpowers - it can predict success, increase lifespan, stimulate the brain, reduce stress, and make you look more competent and likeable.

Key Insights

• 😄 Smiling can predict success and well-being in various aspects of life, such as marriage and academics.
• 😀 Babies are born smiling and continue to smile throughout their lives.
• 😀 Smiling is a universally recognized expression across cultures.
• 😀 Smiling is contagious and affects our brain's processing of emotions.
• 😀 Smiling stimulates the brain's reward mechanism, leading to an improved mood.
• 😀 Smiling reduces stress hormones and increases mood-enhancing hormones.
• 😀 Smiling can make a person appear more likable, courteous, and competent.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What did a study on student photos in an old yearbook reveal?

The study found that students who smiled more in their photos had more successful and fulfilling lives, including better marriages and higher well-being scores.

Q: What did research on pre-1950s baseball cards discover?

The research showed that baseball players who had bigger smiles in their pictures tended to live longer lives compared to those who didn't smile.

Q: Do babies smile?

Yes, even before they are born, babies are seen smiling in ultrasounds. After birth, babies continue to smile, especially during sleep, and even blind babies smile in response to the sound of voices.

Q: Why is smiling contagious?

Smiling is evolutionary contagious because when we see someone else smile, it activates our own smile muscles. Mimicking a smile helps us understand if the smile is genuine or fake, allowing us to interpret the emotional state of the smiler.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A longitudinal study found that people who smiled more in their youth had more fulfilling marriages, higher test scores, and were more inspiring to others.

• Pre-1950s baseball cards showed that players with bigger smiles had longer lifespans.

• Babies smile even before they are born, and smiling is a universally recognized expression.

• Smiling is contagious and can help us understand the emotional state of others.