Smile Experiment Assignment

Running head: SMILE EXPERIMENT ASSIGNMENT 1
Smile experiment assignment
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SMILE EXPERIMENT ASSIGNMENT 2
Abstract
Smile can make someone hope about humanity, change their day and make them get over
negative experience. When someone smiles, they create positive experience for themselves.
Smiling makes the brain produce happiness hormones known as endorphins (Dimberg, 2012).
The study conducted at the streets and at the bus station to show varying facial expressions when
you smile to strangers. The prediction was that when you smile to strangers they will
automatically respond with a smile. Research shows that when you see someone you know or do
not know you smiling to you, you give exchange an insightful smile. Some people give back a
fake smile which can also help them overcome stressful situations although to get most benefits
from smile it should be genuine (Dimberg, Thunberg, & Elmehed, 2010).
The reactions one get after smiling to strangers reveal a lot. They may be covering up
pain, rage or embarrassment but sometimes they may be sincere. Regardless of what is
underneath the expression one gets after smiling to others, a smile can make them feel better
(Ekman, 2019). Various studies found that smile boost mood, improve relationship, bring
happiness, and reduces blood pressure (Frith, 2016). Hence this research could help people with
life problems as it makes some smile. The purpose of the study is to reveal the significance of
facial expressions as a means of social interaction. The research hypothesis was if I smile to 10
people, then more than 5 people will smile back to me.
Method
The day began regularly. I did not feel like smiling while walking in the streets but I tried
my best to do so. I knew people were not expecting anyone to lock eyes with them and give them
a smile hence it was a naturalistic observation. Smiling at people at the streets was difficult as

SMILE EXPERIMENT ASSIGNMENT 3
some were busy walking. I used this approach, to look at people then before smiling I ensured I
created eye contact. Some people looked on their phones screens and could walk without making
eye contact with them.
Afterwards I was able to catch a few smiles on the streets. Some people would catch my
smile and return it. The study was done on Saturday hence I engaged people with different ages
and social status. At the streets the first participant I managed to create eye contact was a taxi
driver whose age seemed to be 40-50 years. I smile and he smiled back inviting me for a ride. I
kept moving I met a young man on work uniform and I smiled he blinked his eye to me. His age
was around 27-30 years. I smiled to a lady who was carrying a baby and she smiled as she
looked on another side to avoid eye contact with me. She then pretended to be smiling to her
baby. She seemed to be between 20-25 years old. I also smiled to a lady who was selling
vegetables which appeared to have stayed for long time in the market. She responded with a
frown face and started talking words which I could not hear clearly. She seemed to be 35-40
years old. I smiled at ladies who were taking photographs at the streets. They seemed to be busy
posing but after I created eye contact and smiled to one of them she laughed and tried to hide.
The second phase of the study was easier as some people had boarded the vehicle and
were idling as they waited their buses to depart. I smiled to a man who smiled back and asked if I
knew him and turned around to make sure if he was the one I was smiling to. I smiled to a man
who seemed to be of high social status. He looked uncomfortable and was looking at his watch
asking when the vehicle will leave. He smiled back and stopped complaining and made a phone
call. I smiled to a young child whose mother was busy paying her ticket and she just stared at
me. I smiled to the driver and he said the bus will be leaving in the next 10 minutes while