A Multi-Lab Test of the Facial Feedback Hypothesis; Registered Replication Report: Strack, Martin & Stepper (1988)
Coles et al., Many Smiles Collaboration (2022); Wagenmakers et al. (2016) · Nature Human Behaviour, 6; Perspectives on Psychological Science, 11(6)
We use this paper in 1 place in the academy · 1 stated limit
This page covers two papers. Both are named above, and the link below opens the first one.
What other researchers dispute
Popular charm advice often says that if you put on a smile, your mood will follow. In 2016, 17 labs repeated the classic experiment, in which people held a pen in their mouth, and they did not get the same result. In 2022, a study across 26 labs found only small effects. The effect was weakest in the pen task.
What the study found
Carnegie also claimed that smiling changes your own mood. The evidence for that is weak. In 2016, 17 labs repeated the classic pen-in-mouth experiment and did not get the original result. In 2022, a study across 26 labs found small effects, and the smallest came from the pen task.
What the study cannot prove
So here is the honest position. Smile because it tells people you are approachable. We cannot promise it will make you happier.
Where we use it
We use this paper in 1 place in the academy. If the paper turned out to be wrong, we would have to change everything in this list.
In the topics · 1
Other papers used in the same places
These papers are used in the same topics and videos as this one. That does not mean the papers agree with each other. It only means that the same exercises use both.
A Little Thanks Goes a Long Way: Explaining Why Gratitude Expressions Motivate Prosocial Behavior
Grant & Gino (2010)It Doesn't Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking
Huang, Yeomans, Brooks, Minson & Gino (2017)Overly Shallow?: Miscalibrated Expectations Create a Barrier to Deeper Conversation
Kardas, Kumar & Epley (2022)Perceived Partner Responsiveness as an Organizing Construct in the Study of Intimacy and Closeness
Reis, Clark & Holmes (2004)Disclosing Information About the Self Is Intrinsically Rewarding
Tamir & Mitchell (2012)Research
A real study. We tell you what it found, how many people were in it, and what it can't prove.
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