Smiling and Happiness in Cultural Perspective
Issue: Vol.10, No.4 - October 2011
Article Type: Manuscript
Three distinctive smile codes (American, Japanese, and Polish) have been analysed in detail. Smiling appears to be closely related to cultural norms and values, in Japan it would be social harmony, in US, cheerfulness and friendliness, and in Poland, sincerity. I discuss an idea that the way a given culture constructs a social act of smiling is related to the cultural ideas of “happiness”. While American ethic of cheerfulness is closely connected to the cultural preoccupation with happiness, which is construed as one of those internal attributes that are to be pursued and attained via personal striving, Japanese and Poles understand happiness as something ephemeral and temporary. I argue that the motivation for smiling differs from culture to culture, Americans usually smile to present themselves as happy and friendly, Japanese want to look agreeable and self-controlled, and Poles seldom engage in social smiling because in their view the smile should reflect the inner feelings.
Also In This Issue
- Exercise for the Cancer Patient
- Profile ...... Dr. Yoshiyuki Suzuki
- Lymph Node Metastases in Oral Cancer: Clinical Implication of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C Expression by Malignant Cells
- New Approaches for Early Detection of Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Associated Cancer and Surgical Treatment of UC Patients
- The Role of Chest Computed Tomography in Staging of Oropharngeal Cancer: A Systematice Review
- Current Status and Future Perspective for Rectal Cancer Surgery
- Mammary Manifestations of Some Systemic Disorders
- Is Radiotherapy for Early Laryngeal Caner in Elderly a Safe and Effective Treatment Method
- \'Who are our patients?\' A Socio-Demographic Profile of Head and Neck Cancer Patients
- Therapeutic Relationships - Developing Partnerships in Diverse Settings.
- TRPM8, A Calcium Permeable Non-selective Cation Channel
