From Hillary Clinton to Donald Trump, politicians have been wielding their smile power across the country this election season. Can something as simple as a smile really make an impact on votes?
Smiles can influence elections.
Candidates who smile in campaign photos have improved polling outcomes, compared to those who don’t smile.
The science of smiling is subtle in politics.
To a voter’s subconscious, a smile is a glimpse into a candidate’s personality. A speech can be scripted—but smiles are not. If a candidate shows a subdued smile in the face of crowd cheers, it may indicate bashfulness. People who smile as their opponents are attacked may signal vindictiveness. Smiling for politicians should be consistent with the message. If a candidate is speaking about hope for the future, his or her smile should appear happy, not staged or contemptuous.
So, no matter which candidate you choose, check out his or her smile before you cast your vote.