Taylor Wade Conference Abstract 4/18/2013 TITLEEmotional Contagion and Nonverbal Facial Expressions ABSTRACTEmotional contagion is the predisposition

to mimic verbal, physiological, and behavioral aspects of another persons emotional experience, as well as experience the emotions themselves (Sonnby-Borgstrm, 2002). This research examined how gender, group size, and camaraderie can affect emotional contagion, specifically with smiling and happiness. ABSTRACTWhen we see another individual smile in our direction, it is socially expected to smile back. Research has shown that it is not only socially expected, but an instinctive, unconscious reaction that is linked to ones emotions (Sonnby-Borgstrm, 2002). The phenomenon behind this automatic reaction is called emotional contagion. Emotional contagion is the predisposition to mimic verbal, physiological, and behavioral aspects of another persons emotional experience, as well as experience the emotions themselves (Sonnby-Borgstrm, 2002). Although this phenomenon occurs across all emotions, the present research focused on the emotion of happiness, portrayed through smiling. Smiling is a nonverbal expression that is often passed on from one person to another through emotional contagion. This experience can be affected by an individuals gender, and whom they are around. In relation to gender differences in smiling, Morse (1982) examined pictures of men and women in yearbooks, and found that women smile more

often than men. In a similar study, Foot, Chapman, and Smith (1977) found that having a companion present compared to being alone facilitates smiling, and is much stronger when the companion is a friend rather than a stranger. This research aimed to examine the effects of gender, group size, and the presence of a companion into a study focusing on smiling and its effect on other people. Participants were shown three smiling pictures, three angry pictures, and three sad pictures. This was done to manipulate their nonverbal expressions. These pictures were selected from the Internet and piloted on a class of undergraduate students to ensure validity. Participants facial expressions were observed, and the interaction of emotional contagion was measured. No significance was found regarding gender differences in smiling. Results from the study found that smiling at someone will cause that person to smile back, and that they will experience feelings of happiness as well. This study supported the hypothesis that smiling at someone will not only cause that person to smile back, but feel emotions of happiness as well.