"Smile even if it's fake!"... It becomes a magic potion to lower heart rate stress

◆ 'Fake smile' lowers heart rate and relieves stress

Everyone knows that laughter is good for health. So, what kind of changes does fake laughter bring to the body? According to a research team at the University of Kansas in the United States, fake laughter also has the effect of lowering heart rate and relieving stress. Various facial expressions in people bring about different changes in the body.

The research team asked participants to make genuine smiles, fake smiles, neutral expressions, and exaggerated mouth-opening expressions. Then, they induced the same stressful situation by having participants do something they disliked, and asked them to maintain their facial expressions. The study found that people who made fake smiles had lower heart rates than those with neutral expressions. In other words, fake smiling helped alleviate bodily stress during stressful situations.

◆ However, fake smiles in 'emotional labor' increase stress

Fake smiles are part of emotional labor for sales and service workers. What changes occur in the body for those who force a smile due to their job when dealing with customers? The above study found that even just a smiling expression led to positive changes in the body, but for emotional laborers who fake smiles as part of their profession, different results appeared.

According to a research team at Michigan State University in the United States, people who frequently fake smiles for professional reasons tend to fall into feelings of depression and have decreased productivity. On the other hand, genuine positive mindsets and behaviors improve people's moods and increase productivity. In other words, those who force smiles and only appear cheerful on the outside are actually more likely to fall into deeper feelings of depression.

◆ Ultimately, even fake smiles depend on a 'positive mindset'!

Looking at the above conflicting research results, fake laughter and smiling expressions are important, but the most crucial factor is a positive mindset towards the situation. People who are feeling depressed but force themselves to smile professionally tend to feel more depressed and have lower productivity. However, even in stressful situations, deliberately maintaining a smiling expression while simultaneously adopting a positive mindset can double the beneficial effects. The fact that just a fake smile can lower heart rate and reduce stress suggests that even in difficult moments, transforming energy with a positive mindset and a smile can be helpful.