Nonverbal communication, and especially facial expression, is a highly interesting and highly complex theme. First, there are many different facial expressions and for each expression even more different hypothesis and opinions. To reduce this complexity, I want to concentrate on just one aspect of facial expression, which is smiling. As “smiles are the most easily recognized facial expression” it offers a great variety of aspects for research, e.g. whether there are cultural differences and whether facial expressions are due to nature or nurture. Although they are all very interesting, I want to concentrate on the aspect of gender differences.
Therefore, I will begin with a more general part presenting what a smile is, what it is used for and which differences there are. Then there will be a greater part on gender differences and the various hypothesis and thesis around it. Finally, I will present my own empirical study, which is an observation of the anchormen and women on CNN, focusing on their smiling behaviour in connection with specific utterances. In this way, I will also develop my own hypothesis.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The smile
III. Gender differences in smiling behaviour
IV. Empirical study
V. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Topics
This term paper explores the complex phenomenon of smiling behaviour, with a primary focus on identifying and analyzing gender differences. The research investigates whether societal expectations, status, or emotional expressiveness influence how frequently and under what circumstances men and women smile, supported by both existing scientific literature and a custom empirical observational study of news anchors.
- Biological and social definitions of smiling
- Theoretical frameworks regarding gender-based nonverbal communication
- The impact of social status and power on smiling behaviour
- Empirical analysis of smiling patterns in media professionals
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III. Gender differences in smiling behaviour
Women are generally thought to smile more than men do, probably because they are more willing to express their emotions in facial expressions. This might be caused by social expectations and standards as female stereotypes define women to be more “interpersonal sensitive”. Males on the other hand are conditioned by society not to reveal their feelings as they are expected to “involve personal efficacy, self-assertion, and task accomplishment” (J. Hall, 1984). Thus, a man who smiles too eager would seem unmasculine and receive negative feedback.
Another hypothesis is stated by Eakins & Eakins (1978) who assume that women smile more in order to cover up uneasiness or nervousness or to meet social expectations. Men in contrast only smile if they feel comfortable or to express solidarity or union.
This is further underlined by a study, which observed the smiling behaviour of parents and how children react to their smiles. This study showed that mothers tend to smile regardless of whether they say something positive or negative, whereas fathers only smile if they say something positive.
It could also be observed that middle class women smiled more than lower or upper class women, probably because they feel that it is socially expected of them. Therefore, a fathers’ smile could be seen as more reliable and true as a mothers’ (Eakins & Eakins, 1978).
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Outlines the complexity of facial expressions and sets the scope for investigating gender differences in smiling behaviour.
II. The smile: Defines the physiological and psychological functions of a smile, differentiating between "felt," "false," and "miserable" expressions.
III. Gender differences in smiling behaviour: Examines various theories and hypotheses regarding why women typically smile more than men, considering social norms and status.
IV. Empirical study: Presents an observational analysis of CNN anchors to compare how verbal utterances correlate with the smiling behaviour of men and women.
V. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, acknowledging that while women smile more frequently, the underlying reasons remain multi-faceted and complex.
Keywords
Smiling behaviour, Gender differences, Nonverbal communication, Facial expression, Duchenne smile, Social expectations, Empiricism, Psychology, Interpersonal sensitivity, Sociolinguistics, Social status, Emotional expression, Gender stereotypes, Communication studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this term paper?
The paper examines the phenomenon of smiling behaviour, specifically analyzing the identified differences between men and women in their frequency and motivation to smile.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
Key themes include nonverbal communication, the physiological roots of smiling, social expectations of gender roles, and the impact of status and power on interpersonal interaction.
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to understand why women are consistently observed to smile more than men and whether this behaviour is rooted in social conditioning or emotional expressiveness.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author utilizes a literature review of existing psychological theories followed by a qualitative empirical observational study of news anchors on CNN.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section covers the definition of different smile types, the "oppression hypothesis," the impact of testosterone on behaviour, and a statistical comparison of smiling during professional news reporting.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Prominent keywords include gender differences, nonverbal communication, facial expressions, Duchenne smile, and social expectations.
Why are "miserable" smiles excluded from the empirical CNN study?
Because news anchors operate in a "safe" professional environment, they are rarely exposed to the fearful or shameful situations that typically trigger miserable smiles in daily life.
How does the author interpret the higher frequency of female smiling during greetings?
The author concludes that women seem to view smiling as a necessary tool for maintaining politeness and creating a pleasant social atmosphere, more so than their male counterparts.
- Citar trabajo
- Ann-Kathleen Kraetzig (Autor), 2006, Gender differences in smiling behaviour, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/73871
