Out of the experiments discussed in the book, the one discussed in Facing the Uncanny Valley. Relating to how covert reactions can determine your own emotions, the imagined experiment discussed how holding a pen in between your teeth would correlate to you rating cartoons as funnier than if you were holding the pen with your lips or just in your hand.
This is because when holding the pen with your teeth, you are sort of activating the muscles in your face used to smile. Your facial expression when holding the pen with your teeth could subliminally cause you to be in a happier state, even if you are not purposely smiling or even aware you are doing it.
If you're ever having a bad day, walk around with a pen between your teeth for a while! It may subtly boost your mood.
This is probably one of the most hilarious facts I've learned throughout our book about how doing things such as holding a pen in our teeth can boost our mood. Even make things appear funnier, that's crazy.
ReplyDeleteThere was a study done in Wales about how people who had Botox injections felt happier and the researchers determined it was because they could not frown! https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328050045_The_interactions_between_botulinum-toxin-based_facial_treatments_and_embodied_emotions
ReplyDeleteI think this topic was interesting to read about. If it is a mood booster, I am sure anyone would try it when they are in a depressing mood. I never would have came across that fact with holding the pen in my teeth would cause me in a happier state until this topic.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about this section of the book as well. It was so interesting to read how something as simple as smiling could boost your mood so much.
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