–submitted by Joy Cardin
Why do we smile? Why do people smile more in some countries than others? And how are our smiles perceived? UW-Madison Psychology Professor Paula Niedenthal shared some of the answers to these questions in her presentation before the Rotary Club of Madison. Neidenthal, who researches smiling around the world, has found countries like the U.S. that are more ancestrally diverse, smile more than others. She theorizes this is because people from different cultures and countries who spoke different languages (and who emigrated to the United States) would use smiles and facial displays of emotion to better communicate and build trust. On the other hand, in European countries with less ancestral diversity where only one language is spoken, don’t smile as much and perceive the North American smile as “fake” and intended to “sell you something”
Neidenthal was smiling as she began her presentation because the Madison City Council the night before started the process to change an ordinance than bans keeping pigs in Madison. The proposed change would allow miniature pet pigs to live in the city. Neidenthal is hopeful this will mean her pet pig, Rudi, the subject of numerous recent news stories, will be able to continue to delight his fans around her near westside neighborhood.
If you missed last week’s meeting, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_OhddgERD8&t=13s
Rotary Club of Madison, Wisconsin 