ok, it’s 11pm and i have 20 pages of a case study to read and then need to write something about it but instead here i am posting and watching a tv show. it’s called secrets of the face with liz hurley and john cleese.
it’s about how important body language, and especially facial expression, is to communication. an interesting topic considering i’m working on virtual teams for my thesis.
they’re talking about how you can improve your relationship by changing your facial expressions. this guy Gottman, specialises in this. they videotaped this couple arguing and showed how there was a lot of contempt and disgust on their faces. signs of hopelessness and being tired. apparently contempt and disgust are the major signs of an approaching divorce.
and the intensity of a smile in a college yearbook photo relates to their self reported level of happiness. they’ve done research! and yes it has to do with positivity (at least my reading… they didn’t give a hell of a lot of detail on the research).
a company in japan found a 30-50% increase in sales by smiling at customers. they have to have smiling classes in order to teach their sales reps to smile! imagine!
there is even a mention of people using emoticons because its common to misunderstand email because there is no facial expression connected to it. and then cleese gives this big rant about how it’s all technologies fault… how we sit in front of a computer, how even when we are out with people with on the phone & not paying attn to the people around us. he starts bashing computer screens going on about how we’re listening to gates and other big nerds about how we’re prehistoric if we really want to be with other humans. and then liz hurley throws water on him. 
there are over 600 laughter clubs in india. groups of people that get together in the morning to laugh. just laugh. the guy sez laughing enhances your immune system and brings oxygen to your system.
ok. the show is over so i guess ill write that case study now. midnite.