If you doubt the connecting power of a smile, consider the conclusions of a study out of Great Britain. When someone looks you in the eye and gives you a warm, genuine smile, the positive stimulation that you feel may be better than sex, chocolate, or shopping.
That’s the conclusion of a study out of Scotland.  And it’s just one more reason why people who want to be great communicators need to remember that smiling and facial energy are critical to connecting with listeners.
According to an article in The Scotsman, a Scottish newspaper, tests were carried out on adult volunteers to determine the effects of various factors in creating a short-term high. An electromagnetic brain scan machine and heart-rate monitor measured brain and heart activity to create a “mood-boosting value” for various stimuli. The tests were carried out on 109 volunteers and followed up by a poll of 1,000 adults.
In the clinical tests, the subjects were shown photos of friends, family and loved ones smiling, given money, and chocolate.
Participants who were shown a child’s smile experienced the same level of stimulation as they would have had from eating 2,000 chocolate bars or receiving £16,000 in cash.
The subsequent survey found that seeing a smile was more likely to create a short-term high than sex, chocolate and shopping.
Now if someone can just find a way to combine all three.
