Do you smile back when a stranger smiles at you? Most people don’t, new research suggests. In an experiment, actress Zara Naeem smiled at 112 people who walked past her during a two-hour period and only 24 returned her grin. But when someone smiles at you, you may want to reply with the same expression, as smiling comes with a lot of benefits.
“Smiling releases endorphins, dopamine and serotonin – hormones which improve our mood and our sense of well-being – and also reduces cortisol, our stress hormone, making us feel less anxious and more relaxed,” explains psychologist Jo Hemmings. “A genuine and spontaneous smile which reaches our eyes – known as the Duchenne smile – can also lower our blood pressure and boost our immune system, by increasing our production of white blood cells.”
According to a new survey in honor of National Smile Month, simply having someone smile at them makes 46% of people feel happy and 65% say it boosts their mood.
- That feeling lasts for an average of more than 13 minutes, and makes the person more likely to be kinder to others (37%) and more motivated (19%).
- The average person says they smile at a stranger five times a week, but 16% admit they rarely or never return a smile.
- A third say they don’t because they’re just not paying attention, 20% blame being in a rush, but 27% don’t smile back because they’re afraid they’ll “look weird” and 14% are too embarrassed.
- The top things that make people smile include:
- Going on vacation
- A sunny morning
- Receiving a kind gesture from a stranger
- A loved one getting good news
- Doing something that makes someone else smile or laugh
- Getting a surprise gift
- Winning money
- Getting into bed with freshly washed sheets
- Seeing an elderly couple holding hands
Source: NY Post