Question

Maya finds her customer service job to be frustrating and stressful. She tells her friend Jeff about her negative experience at work, and he tells her to force herself to smile while she is at work, an idea he learned in his psychology class. When Maya tries smiling at work, she finds her job less frustrating and even begins to enjoy it some days. The idea that Jeff shared with Maya is most likely the:

Answer 1

The idea Jeff shared with Maya is the facial feedback hypothesis, which posits that smiling can improve emotional states and lead to greater job satisfaction. This is supported by research that suggests facial expressions can affect emotions and that a positive mindset contributes to job satisfaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The idea that Jeff shared with Maya, which led to her finding her customer service job less frustrating and even enjoyable at times, is likely rooted in the facial feedback hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that the act of smiling can influence our emotional experience, leading to greater job satisfaction and a more positive attitude. Evidence supporting this notion includes research that found suppressing facial expressions can lower emotional intensity, and that facial expressions can affect emotional reactions and physiological arousal.

Furthermore, having a positive mindset, feeling in control of one's work, and being part of the decision-making process are significant factors in job satisfaction. Therefore, Maya's implementation of Jeff's advice not only aligns with the facial feedback hypothesis but also aligns with the idea that projecting a positive attitude can have beneficial effects on one's perception of their job. Smiling more frequently at work could thus contribute to higher job satisfaction and overall well-being.