This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 85.92.183.98 (talk) at 11:25, 24 May 2024 (→Description). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 11:25, 24 May 2024 by 85.92.183.98 (talk) (→Description)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Facial expression "Scowl" redirects here. For other uses, see Scowl (disambiguation). "Sad face" redirects here. For an episode of the animated series Adventure Time, see Sad Face (Adventure Time).
A frown (also known as a scowl) is a facial expression in which the eyebrows are brought together, and the forehead is wrinkled, usually indicating displeasure, sadness or worry, or less often confusion or concentration. The appearance of a frown varies by culture. An alternative usage in North America is thought of as an expression of the mouth. In those cases when used iconically, as with an emoticon, it is entirely presented by the curve of the lips forming a down-open curve. The mouth expression is also commonly referred to in the colloquial English phrase, especially in the United States, to "turn that frown upside down" which indicates changing from sad to happy.
SKIBIVIDI TOILET MAN
Social behavior
In social settings frowns are most frequently used to express a range of negative emotions including anger and displeasure. However there are social differences that dictate who is allowed to frown in any given social setting. Socially dominant individuals are more likely to frown than those of a lower social status. Individuals with a high social status are permitted to display their emotions more freely, while low dominance individuals are expected to show signs of affiliation. It is considered more socially acceptable for men to display negative emotions than women; women also tend to be less likely to frown than men. Unlike smiling, frowns do not appear to be directly socially contagious; seeing someone frown does not necessarily make you frown. However, in a scientific study participants that were subliminally exposed to frowning faces, were more likely to react with a frown when later shown a neutral face. Frowns can also increase counter-empathy reactions. When the loser of a competition frowns it increases brain responses associated with pleasure in the winner, which is possibly related to the feeling of schadenfreude experienced when witnessing the misfortune of others. Frowns also contribute to impressions formed even during brief encounters with other individuals. When shown a 30-second video clip (without audio) of a frowning college professor, students tend to rate the professor poorly on evaluations.
Muscles used
It is a long-held belief that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile. It is difficult to determine exactly how many muscles are involved in smiling or frowning as there is a wide range of facial expressions that might be considered a frown or a smile. At minimum ten muscles are required to smile in which only the upper lip and corners of the mouth are lifted. A similarly minimal frown requires only six muscles to lower the corners of the mouth. According to plastic surgeon Dr. David H. Song of the University of Chicago Medical Center, however, frowning requires 11 muscles while smiling requires 12. This method of counting the number of muscles used in generating a facial expression does not take into account the energy consumed by each muscle or the individual variability in facial muscles. While humans share facial musculature to express the universal emotions, some humans have more muscles in their faces and may use more of them when smiling or frowning.
| Frowning | Smiling |
|---|---|
| Platysma (2 muscles) | Zygomaticus major (2 muscles) |
| Orbicularis oculi (2 muscles) | Orbicularis oculi (2 muscles) |
| Corrugator supercilii (2 muscles) | Levator labii superioris (2 muscles) |
| Procerus (1 muscle) | Levator anguli oris (2 muscles) |
| Orbicularis oris (1 muscle) | Risorius (2 muscles) |
| Mentalis (1 muscle) | Zygomaticus minor (2 muscles) |
| Depressor anguli oris (2 muscles) | |
| 11 muscles total | 12 muscles total |
See also
References
- LaFrance, M.; Hect, M.A. (1999). "Option or obligation to smile: The effects of power and gender on facial expression.". In P.Phillipot; R.S. Feldman; E.J. Coars (eds.). The social context of nonverbal behavior. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–70. ISBN 978-0-521-58666-5.
- Hess, Ursula; Adams, R.B.; Kleck, R.E. (2005). "Who may frown and who should smile? Dominance, affiliation, and the display of happiness and anger" (PDF). Cognition and Emotion. 19 (4): 515–536. doi:10.1080/02699930441000364. S2CID 18739720.
- Hinsz, V.B.; Tomhave, J.A. (1991). "Smile and (Half) the World Smiles with You, Frown and You Frown Alone". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 17 (5): 586–592. doi:10.1177/0146167291175014. S2CID 33343894.
- Ulf, Dimberg; Thunberg, M.; Elmehed, K. (January 2000). "Unconscious Facial Reactions to Emotional Facial Expressions". Psychological Science. 11 (1): 86–89. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.508.2004. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00221. PMID 11228851. S2CID 67858.
- Yamada, M.; Lamm, C.; Decety, J. (2011). "Pleasing frowns, disappointing smiles: An ERP investigation of counterempathy". Emotion. 11 (6): 1336–1345. doi:10.1037/a0023854. PMID 21728414.
- Ambady, Nalini; Rosenthal, R. (1993). "Half a Minute: Predicting Teacher Evaluations From Thin Slices of Nonverbal Behavior and Physical Attractiveness". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 64 (3): 431–441. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.64.3.431. S2CID 16122351.
- Hix, John (1931). Strange As It Seems. New York: Sears Publishing Company. p. 224.
- ^ Scheve, Tom (2 June 2009). "How many muscles does it take to smile?". Discovery Fit & Health. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ Adams, Cecil (16 January 2004). "Does it take fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved 26 August 2011.
- Waller, Bridget M.; Cray, James J.; Burrows, Anne M. (2008). "Selection for Universal Facial Emotion". Emotion. 8 (3): 435–439. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.612.9868. doi:10.1037/1528-3542.8.3.435. PMID 18540761.
