Scientists Asked People to Fake Smiles. Something Unexpected Happened
Summary
An online experiment with about 1,200 participants found that posing a smile once could improve reported happiness, but the benefit faded when people had to repeat the expression. When participants faced a warning that they could lose part of their payment for not following the instructions, repeated smiling was linked to lower happiness and more anger.Key Facts
- The study was led by Nicholas Coles, a psychology professor at the University of Florida.
- Participants viewed images with happy or unhappy themes and were told either to fake a smile or respond naturally.
- Participants assigned to fake smiles were warned they could lose $2 of their $6 payment if they did not follow instructions; all received the full payment at the end.
- After each round, participants rated how happy they felt.
- A single posed smile had a positive effect on reported happiness, but that effect quickly diminished when participants repeatedly posed smiles.
- The researchers found that repeated smiling under financial pressure tended to lower happiness and increase anger.
- The study appeared online on October 1 and is scheduled for the January 2027 issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.
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