One smile can make you feel a million dollars

Seeing a smile can give more pleasure than sex or eating chocolate, according to new research. Receiving a smile from a friend or relative generates much higher levels of stimulation to the brain and the heart than being given money or having a cigarette, according to clinical tests.

But the amount of pleasure depends on who is smiling: a child’s face or that of a celebrity has a much better effect than a politician or a member of the Royal family. The study found that smiles from Geri Halliwell and Robbie Williams created much greater stimulation and pleasure than those by Tony Blair or Prince William.

The research, carried out by the computer giant Hewlett Packard, suggests simple human interaction is still worth far more than material pleasure. The research found that Scots were among the most likely in Britain to return a smile from a stranger.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Mar 2005
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.