Smile

Social psychologists have learned that the hereditary nonverbal signals can vary a lot in fine detail according to the context in which they are expressed. In 2015, an international team of psychologists led by Paul Marie Niedenthal and Magdalena Rychlowaks of the University of Wisconsin discovered through big data analyses that communication by smiling depends in good part upon how diverse had been the people who founded the country in which the studied person dwelt. Smiles that signal friendly intent as opposed to aggressive or competitive intent were more common in countries of diverse origins.

During interactions with strangers, the presence of a smile reliably predicts trust that sharing resources. Moreover, observing smiles that accompany cooperative behaviors increases one’s cooperation in the future. Negotiating status is another matter. This type of social interaction is complex and potentially disruptive in homogenous cultures, such as Japan and China, where long-term population stability created conditions favorable to the development of fixed hierarchies. In similar circumstances, a smile can signal that the interaction will not disturb the social order will not disturb the social order, where specific features of the smile convey derision and criticism amidst other signs of superior status. ~ Page 118/119