Why do humans smile?

Question

Thanks.

Answer 1

To communicate happiness.

In physiology, a smile is a facial expression formed by flexing muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth, but also around the eyes. Among humans, it is customarily an expression of pleasure or amusement, but can also be an involuntary expression of anxiety, in which case it can be known as a grimace. There is much evidence that smiling is a normal reaction to certain stimuli and occurs regardless of culture. Happiness most often causes the smile to occur, though. Many studies indicate that smiling is an innate reaction, as children blind from birth, and even human fetuses smile; however feral children generally do not smile, perhaps lending evidence to the contrary, perhaps indicating the profound psychological disturbance that results in a member of a social species brought up with no elders or peers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SaraSmiles.jpg

Answer 2

There is much evidence that smiling is a normal reaction to certain stimuli and occurs regardless of culture. Happiness most often causes the smile to occur, though. Many studies indicate that smiling is an innate reaction, as children blind from birth, and even human fetuses smile; however feral children generally do not smile, perhaps lending evidence to the contrary, perhaps indicating the profound psychological disturbance that results in a member of a social species brought up with no elders or peers.

Answer 3

There are lots of different types of smiles meaning many different things. Humans can leer, smirk ,grin, snarl, laugh (open mounth smile) all of these can mean different things to different cultures. Smiling is a form of communication and probably evolved to help save lives or manipulate others. Besides a genuine enjoyment smile, other smiles are social signals.

Answer 4

Because in the animal kingdom, we are the only animals that express love, care, and offer help to other human beings. It's a human trait that we exhibit when we are feeling a certain amount of the above mentioned qualities.

Answer 5

Think about it, does'nt it feel good to smile ? It's a natural reflex. It's a way of showing your true feelings. Most animals can't smile because of their physical structure, but this does'nt mean they're incapable of Loving.

Answer 6

because humans have muscles in the face that convey emotion for the purpose of language/body language. no other animal on earth can create so many facial emotions.

"We believe laughter evolved from the panting behavior of our ancient primate ancestors. Today, if we tickle chimps or gorillas, they don’t laugh “ha ha ha” but exhibit a panting sound. That’s the sound of ape laughter. And it’s the root of human laughter.

Apes laugh in conditions in which human laughter is produced, like tickle, rough and tumble play, and chasing games. Other animals produce vocalizations during play, but they are so different that it’s difficult to equate them with laughter. Rats, for example, produce high-pitch vocalizations during play and when tickled. But it’s very different in sound from human laughter.

When we laugh, we’re often communicating playful intent. So laughter has a bonding function within individuals in a group. It’s often positive, but it can be negative too. There’s a difference between “laughing with” and “laughing at.” People who laugh at others may be trying to force them to conform or casting them out of the group.

No one has actually counted how much people of different ages laugh, but young children probably laugh the most. At ages 5 and 6, we tend to see the most exuberant laughs. Adults laugh less than children, probably because they play less. And laughter is associated with play.

We have learned a lot about when and why we laugh, much of it counter-intuitive. Work now underway will tell us more about the brain mechanisms of laughter, how laughter has evolved and why we’re so susceptible to tickling — one of the most enigmatic of human behaviors."

rest of the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3077386/#storyContinued

Answer 7

It is extremely difficult NOT to when something is amusing. Smiling is a reflex on a neurological flash-over in our brains produced after our senses pick up something in our environment that produces the amusement.

Answer 8

Because we're happy. Some animals smile, too.

Answer 9

because... they feel good.

they feel loved.

trusted, respected, belonged, cared, understood..

=)

i smile because i know, whenever i share my ideas, and give of myself, i make someone's day >> or somehow touched a life.

Answer 10

its a natural tendency for a person to show his feelings using his/ her face.... smiling is one of those....