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Stygma
New Member
36 Posts |
 Posted - 02/16/2002 : 09:41:51
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I was wondering about this a while ago, and it popped back into my head.
I'm curious--when a human encounters pleasure, or something favorable, they smile. Is that a built-in reaction? Or is it just a simple positive conditioning from day 1? For example, some trained monkeys will smile when they do something right. I think this is conditioned; I doubt they smile at each other in the wild. But for humans, is it the same way?
Always remember that you're unique--just like everyone else.
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2002 : 09:56:13 [Permalink]
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As far as I know, smiling is instinctual (babies begin to do it shortly after birth, and probably before they can see their mother's smile very well).
It's also universal - a smile means the same thing in every human culture. This isn't true of more complicated comminucation (gestures and, of course, language).
So it would seem that smiling is wired right into our genes.
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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Espritch
Skeptic Friend
USA
284 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2002 : 11:57:10 [Permalink]
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It is kind of curious though. Among most animals, baring one's teeth is a clear threat. If a baboon appears to smile, you had best back away. And we all know that when a dog bares it's teeth, it means business. I wonder how it is that amongst humans, a big toothy grin came to be a positive signal.
Edited by - espritch on 02/16/2002 11:57:46 |
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Xev
Skeptic Friend
USA
329 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2002 : 13:09:39 [Permalink]
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Esperich: What I have read is that it is a way of saying "I could hurt you but I won't"
Odd though, I hardly ever bear my teeth when I smile. But then again, I am rather poker faced.
Thought constitutes the greatness of man -Pascal |
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Archistrategos
New Member
28 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2002 : 14:04:47 [Permalink]
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Xev, don't try to hide it, I know you loved the thought. 
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Badger
Skeptic Friend
Canada
257 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2002 : 14:44:11 [Permalink]
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In one of Desmond Morris' books, he indicates that smiling is indeed a variation of the bearing of teeth when threatened. And laughing is a variant of crying. Both are in response to something unexpected (ie. laughing at the punchline of a joke, as the juxtaposition of ideas in a joke is what leads to humour)
If you think of smiling in babies, the baby feels threatend or uncomfortable therefore "bears its teeth", and then gets positive reinforcement for "smiling", or gets is discomfort tended to.
Amongst people who "make you happy", you smile to indicate that they are dominant to you and so you bear your teeth, though don't really mean to harm them. Merely indicate that you are subservient to them (ie. you'll do a good turn for a friend).
I smile, but sometimes it IS because I'm going to bite.
Just because we're hypnotized, that don't mean we can't dance. - Tonio K. |
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Megan
Skeptic Friend
USA
163 Posts |
Posted - 02/18/2002 : 09:22:43 [Permalink]
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quote:
I'm curious--when a human encounters pleasure, or something favorable, they smile. Is that a built-in reaction? Or is it just a simple positive conditioning from day 1?
I would have to say that it would be a mix of both. But dont ask me why, for I have no idea.
~Megan~
"Dancers are the athletes of God." -Albert Einstein |
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