The Science Behind Resting Bitch Face

Ahhh, resting bitch face.

Yep, you know the face, not just any face.

But that face, oh, if looks could kill.

Research has found that our facial expressions involuntarily reflect our emotions.

They can intensify or even directly influence our mood.

Frowning makes you sadder, and showing no expression makes your emotions less intense.

And it turns out the phenomenon known as “resting bitch face” is real.

6 Universal Facial Expressions

Apparently, our facial expressions do convey our emotions:

• happy
• sad
• afraid
• surprised
• angry
• disgusted

A 2015 study used a computer program designed to read facial expressions; what they found was that people with what is often referred to as a “resting bitch face” have twice as many underlying emotions as those associated with other facial expressions.

These are usually contemptuous.

So next time your girlfriend throws that look, you can rest safely in the knowledge that a resting b*tch face exists.

The science behind smiling.

There is; we’re not kidding. Have you ever seen a photo of someone smiling and noticed they still looked miserable despite it? It’s like the expression – ‘the smile never lit up their eyes’.

Interestingly, fake smiles are surprisingly easy to recognise, so psychologists have pinpointed the exact muscles used to create them.

Genuine smiles

They are known as Duchenne smiles, named after the French doctor who discovered them.

They involve the involuntary and voluntary contraction of major facial muscles: the zygomaticus, our cheekbones, and orbicularis oculi, the muscles that surround our eyes.

Fake smiles

On the other hand, these use the voluntary contraction of the zygomatic muscles, leaving you, as the onlooker, with a sense that something is just a little bit off with that person.

Genetically disposed to smile

Are you, little Miss, poker-faced, even when confronted with a video of kittens with brain freezes? Apologies—harsh, we know—but you get the message.

There could be a genetic explanation for your stony face.

Whilst personality, upbringing, and Culture are all mitigating factors, exciting research from the University of Michigan suggests that the manifestation of a particular gene can deeply affect the depth of our emotions.

Individuals with shorter versions of this gene tended to smile and laugh more frequently, while those with the longer version were less likely to express themselves in this manner. Wow, fascinating, right?

Did you know that smiling doesn’t just improve the mood of the person you are smiling with? The very act of seeing someone else smile can broadly lower aggression in us.

Moreover, research has found that laughter is contagious; when we hear someone laughing aloud, our brain prepares specific facial muscles to smile, making their skin look so much better.

Now, we think you would agree that’s something to smile about.

To conclude. The naked truth

In conclusion, our facial expressions are powerful communicators of our emotions, conveying a spectrum of feelings from happiness to disgust.

Studies have revealed intriguing insights into the intricacies of facial expressions, shedding light on phenomena like “resting bitch face” and the science behind genuine and fake smiles.

The discovery of Duchenne smiles, characterised by the characteristic engagement of facial muscles, contrasts with the artificiality of forced smiles, illustrating the profound impact of authenticity in human interactions.

Furthermore, genetic predispositions may influence our propensity to smile, highlighting the complex interplay between biology and behaviour.

Interestingly, smiles and laughter are contagious, which underscores their universal appeal. They transcend cultural and linguistic barriers to foster positive connections among individuals.

As we unravel the mysteries of facial expressions, we gain a deeper understanding of human communication and the profound effects of a simple smile.