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Smile & Influence
Posted on September 19th, 2009 11 comments
“Smile and the whole world smiles back at you.” Sound familiar?
You may be surprised to learn that psychological research has proven this quote to be true – just seeing a smile (or a frown) will activate the muscles in your face that make that expression, even if we are unconsciously aware of it.
According to a new study, just the act of reading a certain word could have the same effect.
Psychologists Francesco Foroni from VU University Amsterdam and Gün R. Semin from the University of Utrecht conducted two experiments to see if emotion language has an influence on facial muscle activity.
In the first experiment, a group of students read a series of emotion verbs (e.g., “to smile,” “to cry”) and adjectives (e.g., “funny,” “frustrating”) on a monitor, while the activity of their zygomatic major (the muscle responsible for smiles) and corrugator supercilii (which causes frowns) muscles were measured.
The results showed that reading action verbs activated the corresponding muscles. For example, “to laugh” resulted in activation of the zygomatic major muscle, but did not cause any response in the muscles responsible for frowning
This news can be good to know when persuasion or influence is needed to help others make a judgment or decision that match your goals.
Also, works wonders for creating that rapport we all need.
Example: You can use action verbs that elicit the smile and that happy emotion in your speech or written material. When a person is feeling happy in that moment you create an anchor and you help to influence the other person or people to join in your…cause, ideas or buy your product.
I also believe you should smile as you speak on the phone. You can feel when a person on the other end is smiling, I know I can.
Smile and enjoy your day! And if you see a person without a smile, share your.
R. Lynn Lane
Lane Resources Inc.
Resources – Psychological Science – http://www.sciencedaily.com/ – Lane Resources Inc.
11 responses to “Smile & Influence”
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Lynn, we all know that this is true yet we don’t act like it 100% of the time.
Seize the Day,
Rob
Sales Tactics For Small Business Owners -
Lynn,
>
you should smile as you speak on the phone. You can feel when a person on the other end is smiling, I know I can.
>Thanks for reminding me. I heard similar statement decades ago from a sales trainer. It’s SO true.
Now, I want to track down my Smiley Face “CD”.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope -
I definitely agree with this. I can feel myself almost involuntarily smiling when I see someone else smiling. It’s a wonderful thing!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies -
There is amazing power in some of the small things we do. Smiles and words have more power than most people believe and we should use this to our benefit.
Steve Chambers
Business to Business Sales Trainer -
Indeed, just look at how we get babies and small children to smile. We mirror it to them first! and then they LOVE to Smile Back at us.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
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The smiling on the phone thing works! I have read other studies that support that!
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com -
Hi Lynn,
When I smile as a talk I notice a sense of connection with the other person. Its a good feeling to have.
Keri Eagan
Anything Alternative -
A single smile from a stranger can change the entire course of my day!
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Great advice. Smiles are contagious!
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
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needed here
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q1kWzx I want to say – thank you for this!
Leave a reply
Rob Northrup September 19th, 2009 at 20:40