Why do people smile?
人为什么会笑?
woman smiling
When someone smiles at you, it tells you very clearly that the person acknowledges you and approves of you. No one can deny how good it feels to give and receive a smile. You can never expect harm from a smiling person. A smile makes us feel really good, secure, and comfortable.
But why is that? What’s the purpose of smiling in humans?
Our cousins may have the answer
No, not our maternal or paternal cousins. I’m talking about the chimpanzees. The way chimps smile is very similar to us.
Chimps use smiling as an expression of submission. When a chimp encounters a more dominant chimp, it smiles to show the dominant chimp its submissiveness and its disinterest in fighting for dominance.
By smiling, the submissive chimp tells the dominant chimp, “I am harmless. You need not be intimidated by me. I submit and accept your dominance. I’m afraid of you.”
So, at its root, smiling is basically a fear reaction- a fear reaction that a submissive primate gives to a dominant primate to avoid confrontation.
Since human beings are also primates, smiling in us serves pretty much the same purpose. It is the most effective way to convey our submissiveness to others and tell them that we’re non-threatening.
Interestingly. many studies have revealed that if people are not smiled at during first meetings, they perceive the non-smilers to be hostile.
This is why smiling comforts people and makes them feel good. At a deep unconscious level, it ensures them safety, survival, and well-being- the most primal human needs.
The fear face
Chimps and humans smile in much the same way to signal submissiveness. But there is a particular smiling expression seen in humans that is strikingly similar to the one seen in chimps.
When a chimp encounters a more dominant chimp, it’s very likely to use this smiling expression if it has no intention to compete for dominance. It is known as the ‘fear face’ and is shown on the chimp’s face below:
smiling chimp
It is a rectangular-shaped smile in which teeth sets are close to each other and the lower jaw is slightly exposed. Human beings make this expression when they’re frightened, excited, surprised, or anxious– anything that has an element of fear mixed with it.
The ‘fear face’ expression is seen on a person’s face very briefly when he’s frightened because it fades away rather quickly.
We humans usually make this expression when we finish a long run (“Gee… that was quite a run!”), lift a heavy weight (“Good Lord… I just lifted 200 pounds!”), wait at a dentist’s clinic (“I’m about to get drilled in the mouth!”) or dodge a bullet (“You… did you see that? I almost got killed!”).
fear smile
Gee… that was close!
fear smile woman
And women tell men they act like monkeys.
Some smile more, others smile less
If you pay close attention to the frequency with which people smile in different situations, you’ll soon get an idea of the socio-economic hierarchy of your society. Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch.
In an organization at least, you can tell a lot about the status of its different members just by noticing who smiles more and who smiles less, when and where.
A subordinate usually smiles more than necessary in the presence of a superior in order to appease him. I still remember the fear smile of my teachers when the principal used to come to our class with his courtiers (read secretaries) during my school-days.
Even if a superior feels like smiling in front of a subordinate, it will be a very restrained and brief smile. He has to maintain his dominance and superiority.
You’ll rarely see a very high-status person laughing and cracking jokes with a low-status person in an organization. He usually prefers to do that with his equals.
The high-status people are supposed to maintain a serious, dominant, non-smiling look, and the low-status people are supposed to smile all the time and re-assert their submissiveness.
Laughter as a fear reaction
Some experts believe that even laughter is a fear reaction. They argue that the basis of most jokes is that, at the punchline, something disastrous or painful happens to someone.
This painful event may be physical (e.g. falling down) or psychological (e.g.humiliation). The unexpected ending with the painful event essentially ‘frightens our brain’ and we laugh with sounds similar to a chimp warning other chimps of imminent danger.
Even though we consciously know that the joke isn’t a real event or isn’t happening to us, our laugh releases endorphins anyway for self-anaesthetics to curb the perceived pain.
人为什么会笑?
Rén wéi shén me huì xiào?
当有人对你微笑时,它很清楚地告诉你,这个人承认你并认可你。 没有人可以否认给予和接受微笑的感觉有多好。 你永远不能指望一个微笑的人会受到伤害。 微笑让我们感觉非常好、安全和舒适。
Dāng yǒurén duì nǐ wéixiào shí, tā hěn qīngchǔ dì gàosù nǐ, zhège rén chéngrèn nǐ bìng rènkě nǐ. Méiyǒu rén kěyǐ fǒurèn jǐyǔ hé jiēshòu wéixiào de gǎnjué yǒu duō hǎo. Nǐ yǒngyuǎn bùnéng zhǐwàng yīgè wéixiào de rén huì shòudào shānghài. Wéixiào ràng wǒmen gǎnjué fēicháng hǎo, ānquán hé shūshì.
但这是为什么呢? 人类微笑的目的是什么?
Dàn zhè shì wèishéme ne? Rénlèi wéixiào de mùdì shì shénme?
我们的堂兄弟可能有答案 Wǒmen de táng xiōngdì kěnéng yǒu dá'àn
不,不是我们的表亲或表亲。 我说的是黑猩猩。 黑猩猩微笑的方式与我们非常相似。
Bù, bùshì wǒmen de biǎoqīn huò biǎoqīn. Wǒ shuō de shì hēixīngxīng. Hēixīngxīng wéixiào de fāngshì yǔ wǒmen fēicháng xiāngsì.
黑猩猩用微笑来表达服从。 当黑猩猩遇到更具统治力的黑猩猩时,它会微笑以向占统治地位的黑猩猩展示它的顺从和对争夺统治地位的冷漠。
Hēixīngxīng yòng wéixiào lái biǎodá fúcóng. Dāng hēixīngxīng yù dào gèng jù tǒngzhì lì de hēixīngxīng shí, tā huì wéixiào yǐ xiàng zhàn tǒngzhì dìwèi de hēixīngxīng zhǎnshì tā de shùncóng hé duì zhēngduó tǒngzhì dìwèi de lěngmò.
通过微笑,顺从的黑猩猩告诉占主导地位的黑猩猩,“我是无害的。 你不必被我吓倒。 我服从并接受你的统治。 我害怕你。”
Tōngguò wéixiào, shùncóng de hēixīngxīng gàosù zhàn zhǔdǎo dìwèi de hēixīngxīng,“wǒ shì wú hài de. Nǐ bùbì bèi wǒ xià dào. Wǒ fúcóng bìng jiēshòu nǐ de tǒngzhì. Wǒ hàipà nǐ.”
所以,从根本上说,微笑基本上是一种恐惧反应——一种顺从的灵长类动物为了避免对抗而对占主导地位的灵长类动物的恐惧反应。
Suǒyǐ, cóng gēnběn shàng shuō, wéixiào jīběn shàng shì yī zhǒng kǒngjù fǎnyìng——yī zhǒng shùncóng de líng cháng lèi dòngwù wèile bìmiǎn duìkàng ér duì zhàn zhǔdǎo dìwèi de líng cháng lèi dòngwù de kǒngjù fǎnyìng.
由于人类也是灵长类动物,我们微笑的目的几乎相同。 这是向他人传达我们的顺从并告诉他们我们没有威胁性的最有效方式。
Yóuyú rénlèi yěshì líng cháng lèi dòngwù, wǒmen wéixiào de mùdì jīhū xiāngtóng. Zhè shì xiàng tārén chuándá wǒmen de shùncóng bìng gàosù tāmen wǒmen méiyǒu wēixié xìng de zuì yǒuxiào fāngshì.
有趣的是。 许多研究表明,如果人们在第一次见面时没有受到微笑,他们就会认为不微笑的人充满敌意。
Yǒuqù de shì. Xǔduō yánjiū biǎomíng, rúguǒ rénmen zài dì yī cì jiànmiàn shí méiyǒu shòudào wéixiào, tāmen jiù huì rènwéi bù wéixiào de rén chōngmǎn díyì.
这就是为什么微笑可以安慰人们并使他们感觉良好的原因。 在深层潜意识层面,它确保他们的安全、生存和幸福——这是人类最原始的需求。
Zhè jiùshì wèishéme wéixiào kěyǐ ānwèi rénmen bìng shǐ tāmen gǎnjué liánghǎo de yuányīn. Zài shēncéng qiányìshí céngmiàn, tā quèbǎo tāmen de ānquán, shēngcún hé xìngfú——zhè shì rénlèi zuì yuánshǐ de xūqiú.
恐惧的脸 Kǒngjù de liǎn
黑猩猩和人类以同样的方式微笑以表示顺从。 但是在人类身上看到的一种特殊的微笑表情与在黑猩猩身上看到的惊人相似。
Hēixīngxīng hé rénlèi yǐ tóngyàng de fāngshì wéixiào yǐ biǎoshì shùncóng. Dànshì zài rénlèi shēnshang kàn dào de yī zhǒng tèshū de wéixiào biǎoqíng yǔ zài hēixīngxīng shēnshang kàn dào de jīngrén xiāngsì.
当一只黑猩猩遇到一只更有优势的黑猩猩时,如果它无意争夺优势,它很可能会使用这种微笑的表情。 它被称为“恐惧脸”,如下图所示:
Dāng yī zhǐ hēixīngxīng yù dào yī zhǐ gèng yǒu yōushì de hēixīngxīng shí, rúguǒ tā wúyì zhēngduó yōushì, tā hěn kěnéng huì shǐyòng zhè zhǒng wéixiào de biǎoqíng. Tā bèi chēng wèi “kǒngjù liǎn”, rúxià tú suǒ shì:
它是一种长方形的微笑,其中牙齿彼此靠近,下颌略微暴露。 人类在害怕、兴奋、惊讶或焦虑时会做出这种表达——任何混合了恐惧元素的东西。
Tā shì yī zhǒng chángfāngxíng de wéixiào, qízhōng yáchǐ bǐcǐ kàojìn, xiàgé lüèwēi bàolù. Rénlèi zài hàipà, xīngfèn, jīngyà huò jiāolǜ shí huì zuò chū zhè zhǒng biǎodá——rènhé hùnhéle kǒngjù yuánsù de dōngxī.
当一个人受到惊吓时,“恐惧脸”的表情会非常短暂地出现在他的脸上,因为它会很快消失。
Dāng yīgè rén shòudào jīngxià shí,“kǒngjù liǎn” de biǎoqíng huì fēicháng duǎnzàn dì chūxiàn zài tā de liǎn shàng, yīnwèi tā huì hěn kuài xiāoshī.
我们人类通常在完成长距离跑步(“哎呀……那真是一场跑步!”)、举起重物(“天哪……我刚举起 200 磅!”)、在牙医诊所等待(“ 我要被钻到嘴里了!”)或躲避子弹(“你……你看到了吗?我差点被杀了!”)。
Wǒmen rénlèi tōngcháng zài wánchéng cháng jùlí pǎobù (“āiyā……nà zhēnshi yī chǎng pǎobù!”), Jǔ qǐ zhòng wù (“tiān nǎ……wǒ gāng jǔ qǐ 200 bàng!”), Zài yáyī zhěnsuǒ děngdài (“wǒ yào bèi zuān dào zuǐ lǐle!”) Huò duǒbì zǐdàn (“nǐ……nǐ kàn dàole ma? Wǒ chàdiǎn bèi shāle!”).
哎呀……差一点!
Āiyā……chà yīdiǎn!
而且女人告诉男人他们的行为像猴子。
Érqiě nǚrén gàosù nánrén tāmen de xíngwéi xiàng hóuzi.
有些人笑得更多,有些人笑得更少
Yǒuxiē rén xiào dé gèng duō, yǒuxiē rén xiào dé gèng shǎo
如果您密切关注人们在不同情况下微笑的频率,您很快就会了解您所在社会的社会经济等级。 好吧,这有点牵强。
rúguǒ nín mìqiè guānzhù rénmen zài bùtóng qíngkuàng xià wéixiào de pínlǜ, nín hěn kuài jiù huì liǎojiě nín suǒzài shèhuì de shèhuì jīngjì děngjí. Hǎo ba, zhè yǒudiǎn qiānqiǎng.
至少在一个组织中,你可以通过注意谁笑得更多,谁笑得更少,何时何地,来了解其不同成员的状态。
Zhìshǎo zài yīgè zǔzhī zhōng, nǐ kěyǐ tōngguò zhùyì shéi xiào dé gèng duō, shéi xiào dé gèng shǎo, hé shí hé de, lái liǎojiě qí bùtóng chéngyuán de zhuàngtài.
为了安抚他,下属在上司面前通常会多出必要的微笑。 我还记得在我上学的时候校长带着他的臣子(读秘书)来我们班时老师们的恐惧微笑。
Wèile ānfǔ tā, xiàshǔ zài shàngsi miànqián tōngcháng huì duō chū bìyào de wéixiào. Wǒ hái jìdé zài wǒ shàngxué de shíhòu xiàozhǎng dàizhe tā de chénzǐ (dú mìshū) lái wǒmen bān shí lǎoshīmen de kǒngjù wéixiào.
就算上司喜欢在下级面前微笑,那也是一种很内敛、很短暂的微笑。 他必须保持自己的统治地位和优势。
Jiùsuàn shàngsi xǐhuān zài xiàjí miànqián wéixiào, nà yěshì yī zhǒng hěn nèiliǎn, hěn duǎnzàn de wéixiào. Tā bìxū bǎochí zìjǐ de tǒngzhì dìwèi hé yōushì.
在组织中,您很少会看到地位很高的人与地位低下的人开怀大笑。 他通常更喜欢和他的同龄人一起这样做。
Zài zǔzhī zhōng, nín hěn shǎo huì kàn dào dìwèi hěn gāo de rén yǔ dìwèi dīxià de rén kāihuái dà xiào. Tā tōngcháng gèng xǐhuān hé tā de tónglíng rén yīqǐ zhèyàng zuò.
地位高的人应该保持严肃、霸道、不笑的样子,地位低的人应该一直微笑,重新表明他们的顺从。
Dìwèi gāo de rén yīnggāi bǎochí yánsù, bàdào, bù xiào de yàngzi, dìwèi dī de rén yīnggāi yīzhí wéixiào, chóngxīn biǎomíng tāmen de shùncóng.
笑是恐惧反应
Xiào shì kǒngjù fǎnyìng
一些专家认为,即使是笑也是一种恐惧反应。 他们争辩说,大多数笑话的基础是,在关键时刻,某人发生了灾难性或痛苦的事情。
Yīxiē zhuānjiā rènwéi, jíshǐ shì xiào yěshì yī zhǒng kǒngjù fǎnyìng. Tāmen zhēngbiàn shuō, dà duōshù xiàohuà de jīchǔ shì, zài guānjiàn shíkè, mǒu rén fà shēng le zāinàn xìng huò tòngkǔ de shìqíng.
这种痛苦的事件可能是身体上的(例如跌倒)或心理上的(例如羞辱)。 痛苦事件的意外结局本质上“吓坏了我们的大脑”,我们会发出类似于黑猩猩警告其他黑猩猩危险迫在眉睫的声音的笑声。
Zhè zhǒng tòngkǔ de shìjiàn kěnéng shì shēntǐ shàng de (lìrú diédǎo) huò xīnlǐ shàng de (lìrú xiūrù). Tòngkǔ shìjiàn de yìwài jiéjú běnzhí shàng “xià huàile wǒmen de dànǎo”, wǒmen huì fāchū lèisì yú hēixīngxīng jǐnggào qítā hēixīngxīng wéixiǎn pòzàiméijié de shēngyīn de xiào shēng.
即使我们有意识地知道这个笑话不是真实事件或不会发生在我们身上,但我们的笑声无论如何都会释放内啡肽,用于自我麻醉以抑制感知到的疼痛。
Jíshǐ wǒmen yǒuyìshí dì zhīdào zhège xiàohuà bùshì zhēnshí shìjiàn huò bù huì fāshēng zài wǒmen shēnshang, dàn wǒmen de xiào shēng wúlùn rúhé dūhuì shìfàng nèi fēi tài, yòng yú zìwǒ mázuì yǐ yìzhì gǎnzhī dào de téngtòng.
Nat King Cole - Smile
Lyrics:
Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile
歌词:
微笑虽然你的心在痛
即使它破碎也要微笑
当天上有云时,你就会过去
如果你在恐惧和悲伤中微笑
微笑,也许明天
你会看到阳光为你照耀
用喜悦照亮你的脸
隐藏每一个悲伤的痕迹
虽然眼泪可能会如此接近
那是你必须继续努力的时候
笑,哭有什么用?
你会发现生活还是值得的
如果你只是微笑
那是你必须继续努力的时候
笑,哭有什么用?
你会发现生活还是值得的
如果你只是微笑
Gēcí:
Wéixiào suīrán nǐ de xīn zài tòng
jíshǐ tā pòsuì yě yào wéixiào
dàngtiān shàng yǒu yún shí, nǐ jiù huì guòqù
rúguǒ nǐ zài kǒngjù hé bēishāng zhōng wéixiào
wéixiào, yěxǔ míngtiān
nǐ huì kàn dào yángguāng wèi nǐ zhàoyào
yòng xǐyuè zhào liàng nǐ de liǎn
yǐncáng měi yīgè bēishāng de hénjī
suīrán yǎnlèi kěnéng huì rúcǐ jiējìn
nà shì nǐ bìxū jìxù nǔlì de shíhòu
xiào, kū yǒu shé me yòng?
Nǐ huì fāxiàn shēnghuó háishì zhídé de
rúguǒ nǐ zhǐshì wéixiào
nà shì nǐ bìxū jìxù nǔlì de shíhòu
xiào, kū yǒu shé me yòng?
Nǐ huì fāxiàn shēnghuó háishì zhídé de
rúguǒ nǐ zhǐshì wéixiào
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