Why do people tell boys/men to smile in pictures when smiling men look unattractive?

Question

Usually people try to look extra handsome in pictures. There are studies like this (https://news.ubc.ca/2011/05/24/happy-guys-finish-last-says-new-study-on-sexual-attractiveness/) that clearly show that men look very unattractive when they smile.

If you think about male models, for example, most of them don't smile in pictures either. But why then are we taught since childhood with phrases like "say cheese" to smile in pictures?

JuliaStyles · Accepted Answer

Female models don't smile either, like Victoria's Secret runway models. So that is just part of most modeling - no smiles. Magazine cover models are different and smile plenty. I like men smiling, unless they have teeth like a Walking Dead Zombie. Maybe a lot of people don't smile because they don't like their teeth. I have noticed in a lot of the old movies/TV Shows a lot of the actors had some pretty crooked teeth. In fact Victoria Beckham of the former Spice Girls never smiled because she said she had terrible teeth. Now dental science has come to the point that everyone can have beautiful teeth - but for a price.

DizzyDesii · Accepted Answer

A smirk is cute but a smile is EVERYTHING.

DrunkAss · Accepted Answer

I'm thinking that study is sorta fucked. All the guys I know, including me, who did reasonably well with girls have a cheerful disposition. They smile and laugh a lot. The poker-faced silent types usually have more struggle with this, contrary to Hollywood expectations... like a real Clint Eastwood type would probably struggle more with dates than some guy who shows up being the life of the party. The guys I knew who struggled with girls seemed to have a hard time with smiling, or even being cheerful, in general... party-poopers, you know.

In_Trance · Accepted Answer

People in general look more attractive when they smile. This study is worded so the reader leaves with a certain impression. It's simply not true.
I think you'll find just posting this question that any female that responds will agree; guys look better when they smile.

SueShe · Answer

You are referring to an outdated study on basically 1,000 subjects. Those kind of one sided studies mean strictly nothing and are not relevant as they are no serious.

Try to find a serious study of 50,000+ subjects that has been published in a renowned publication like "The Lancet" and then we can talk about whether this statement is indeed true.

Studies are made to be manipulated, depending on who the sponsor of that study is. For a fact to be really true, you would need more than just one single study but you would need 20 and more studies that all come to the same conclusion in order to be realistic.

And to be conclusive and applicable to the entire world population, you would need studies from all continents and not biased and just from one small, relatively insignificant area of the world.

Prettygirlblonde · Answer

Well, female models don't always smile in their pictures. With modeling, it's all about promoting whatever they're trying to sell. So they mostly try to attract attention through sexual appeal. Sultry facial expressions. Other types of modeling like stock photos have more smiling photos. But it's a fact that a smiling person is more approachable than someone who is super serious. Approachability feeds into attractiveness.

purplepoppy · Answer

Because nobody wants to look like a miserable bastard in the family photo album. You don't want to look back at a holiday snap from years ago and think wow don't the kids look depressed.

ILoveAnime · Answer

In general having a smile on your face makes you more approachable. You might be as handsome as possible with a frown but I'm not approaching you, at all.

Sawyerblu · Answer

I personally think men look more attractive when they smile unless their teeth are really messed up

alice55 · Answer

I never heard of it, I always heard it being said to girls (People have told me to smile so many damm time).
And they just do so cause if not they feel like you don't want to be near them and it upset them.

CrazyGirl2 · Answer

I disagree with the premise that smiling makes men look unattractive! There are actors who are famous for their smile, Tom Selleck (when he was younger) and George Clooney! Also… Lee, my boyfriend!

menina · Answer

Because smiling makes you look more friendly and approachable, I guess.  There are men who look amazing when they smile. I'm crazy about men with nice smiles.

iFarted · Answer

lmao thats bullshit.. "happy guys finish last". I don't know any girl who doesn't find a guy who seems happy unattractive. If the dudes happy, he probably has his shit together or a fun guy.

Minnie97 · Answer

People tell men and boys to smile because they enjoy seeing their smile. Simple.

Tomtom9090 · Answer

People don’t know what they want.

Smile more if you’re not smiling
Don’t smile if you’re smiling
Maybe cut your hair
Maybe grow out your hair

They can never pinpoint what’s missing to make you work

yolo18 · Answer

MEN: YOU 👏LOOK 👏SOOO 👏HOT 👏WHEN 👏YOU 👏SMILE!!

Puppystarfish23 · Answer

Preach, I hate when people tell me smile. Like have you seen me smile

Soremain · Answer

Because you're not supposed to look sexually attractive in your family photo lol.

Andéersin · Answer

I'm not gonna lie I'm guilty of this. But that's because I'm trying to be attracted to them. Some guys look attractive not smiling lol

pigoat · Answer

What you are talking about is just opinion  What else is new?

R3DthatDude · Answer

I don’t know about you but my smile is very attractive. It’s actually my best feature

Waldoe · Answer

opinions are like "assholes" everyone has one... who decides if a guys is unattractive when he smiles? and who cares?

msc545 · Answer

I don't know - there is some myth that people who smile look better. That is usually true for women, not so much for men.

Shihab-91 · Answer

lol yeah i don't look good in pictures while smiling

Why do people tell boys/men to smile in pictures when smiling men look unattractive?

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