You've been reading 'resting b---- face' all wrong - here's what's really going on

Let's say you're at a party and you meet someone new for the first time. For some reason, you can't shake the immediate first impression that this person isdry, unemotional, and unfriendly.This could be because of the phenomenon that the internet has coined as "resting bitch face."Ty Tashiro,psychologist andauthor of the book "Awkward: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome," explains to us why we react to negatively people who look like this and what you can do if you have it yourself.The following is a transcript of the video:Resting bitch face is thisidea that somebody hasa permanent look on theirface that looks unfriendlyor looks like they havea scowl or a frown.I've heard peoplewith resting bitchface sometimestell methat they'llcontextualizeit verbally forother people.That they'll say,'I'm not unhappy with you.I'm not displeased with the situation. I just look this way."And that's areally honestway to talkabout thisfacial expression thatthey're giving,becausefacial expressions are socritical to how we perceivewhat other people are telling us.So if you're saying that you're happy for somebody else,but your face is seriousor even frowning,then they'll take yourfrown or your serious faceover the verbal content of youtrying to congratulate them.It's a little bitunfortunatebecause there issome researchto suggestthat people withresting bitch faceare perceivednegatively by others,which is Iguess whatwe wouldassume.I would suggest try tosmile when you can.When you smile more often, it actually has a psychological effect.So there's somethingabout our facialexpressions thatactual queue our mindsto say thatyou're actuallyfeeling happyor conversely,if you had a frownon your face 'might queue yourmind that you'refeeling sador frustrated.But it's okay to verbalizethat you're not displeased with other people orthat you just kindof look this way.Follow Tech Insider:On FacebookJoin the conversation about this story
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