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Fake it 'til you make it: Researchers finds smiling can affect emotions


Cropped Photo: Emanuele Spies / CC BY 2.0
Cropped Photo: Emanuele Spies / CC BY 2.0
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NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The concept of 'fake it 'til you make it' is getting some scientific support according to a new study from researchers at the University of Tennessee and Texas A&M.

Researchers conducted meta-analysis on 138 studies where facial feedback and the effects on emotion were collected.

In essence, researchers were looking to find if smiling or scowling affects your mood.

After conducting the analysis of over 11,000 participants and 50 years worth of data, researchers found there is a significant but small overall effect of facial feedback on emotions.

Researchers add the effects of facial expression on mood can vary from person to person.

One of the researchers, Nicholas Coles, says you can't smile your way to happiness, but it can be an influence. "We don’t think smiling is a quick fix for depression. Facial expressions like smiling can sometimes influence our emotions but not always. We really still have a lot to learn about how these effects work, but they are worth studying because they provide a clue about how the mind and the body interact to shape our conscious experience of emotions."

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