TOW #14 - The First Smile (nonfiction text)

The First Smile is an article on the psychology behind crying, smiling and laughing. The author of this article, Michael Graziano, is a professor of neuroscience at Princeton University and has conducted several studies of the brain and the things signals to the brain cause humans to do. In this specific article he focuses on three certain human responses and relates them to our ancestors, primates and also explains the ways in which they are interconnected. His assessment of these human responses helps to give significant evidence of evolution and also explains these common responses.
     Graziano first begins by explaining the background of studying laugher, smiles and crying. How it has been a long study and can be broken down to expose evident similarities and practicalities. He also acknowledges the evolutionary track of such responses. He often uses the example of interactions between monkeys. He explains that through studies he has been able to draw comparisons between those of humans and of monkeys which justifies his usage of hess primates as a comparative example. He explains that psychologically we all have barriers and regions of comfort that if intruded cause us to exhibit certain behaviors. For example if you are standing in a crowded room and someone steps too close to you for it to be comfortable, a subconscious response might be to move or to seek a route out. This is a natural response to protect the self. Graziano noticed this behavior in animals as well and was thus able to draw the comparison. In his article he mentions talking to Heini Hediger, a zoo curator and how he designs zoos in a certain way to be comfortable for the animal. That they have certain barriers that cause them to act in certain ways when they feel threatened.
     By frist mentioning this relation Graziano is then able to go into detail in the ways that these responses are logical and also similar to one another. He explains that a common response when one feels threatened is to protect the face, especially the eyes, and any other body parts that could be of the most severe pain if attacked. He explains that when one cries it is usually a process of cleaning out the eyes or creating a response to pain. In this way it is similar to laughter which is the verbal response to something we hear or encounter. Relating this back to monkeys, Graziano explains that monkeys tend to cringe and squint the eyes in times of danger but also in times of playing. They let out verbal responses and even sometimes show their teeth as a mechanism. He explains these all as rational, protective instincts.
    This article is a prime example of breaking down a subject but then justifying the breakdown by mentioning the similarities. He breaks down the human psych by giving evolutionary examples and then interrelating specific examples. His study and evidence is believable due to the presentation.

http://aeon.co/magazine/science/should-we-ever-take-a-smile-at-face-value/