A Smile Can Go a Long Way. The Effects of Dominant and Rewarding Smiles ofCoaches on Athletes in an Evaluative Performance Context
A Research Study by Philip Furley and Fanny Thrien
Non-verbal feedback plays a crucial role throughout human development, significantly influencing social interactions and outcomes. While it is commonly believed that athletes are affected by their coaches’ emotional expressions, research on this topic remains limited. This study builds on existing literature to investigate how reward and dominance smiles from coaches impact athletes’ psychological and physiological responses in performance settings. Utilising the EASI model, the study examines how athletes’ perceptions of their performance-based on the coach’s smile – affect their emotional and physiological states. The experimental design involved athletes performing tasks while receiving either reward or dominance smiles from coaches, aiming to mimic realistic coach-athlete interactions.
Methods:
- Sixty athletes (33 male, 27 female) were divided into two groups: ‘reward-smile-group’ and ‘dominant-smile-group.’
- Participants performed a speech and two physical tasks while receiving feedback from pre-recorded videos of coaches showing either smile type.
- Heart rate was monitored with Garmin Fenix 5× Plus, and stress and affect were measured using visual analogue scales.
- Facial expressions were analysed using Noldus FaceReader to assess intensity and emotional content.
- The study used videos rated highest for clear expressions of dominance and reward.
Results:
- Heart Rate: Significant effects were found for measurement time (p < .001) and the interaction between measurement time and group (p = .002), with the dominant smile group showing higher mean differences. Gender had no significant impact.
- Affect and Stress Levels: Significant interaction effects for affect (p = .03) showed a decrease in the dominant smile group and an increase in the reward smile group. Stress showed a significant effect for measurement time (p < .001), with no significant group effects.
- Facial Expressions: No significant differences in facial behaviours except for the chin raiser action unit.
- Individual Differences: Gender, age, performance anxiety, and sport-specific variables did not significantly influence results.
Discussion:
A coach’s emotional expression can have a significant impact on their athletes’ stress response systems. The results of this study found that different types of smiles by coaches had varying effects on athletes. Dominant smiles increased heart rates and reduced positive feelings, compared to reward smiles. These results align with theories in behavioural ecology that suggest that our ability to perceive and interpret facial expressions has evolved to help us navigate social interactions effectively. The results of the study also showed that distinct types of smiles can affect social interactions differently, with reward smiles potentially enhancing motivation and performance, and dominant smiles possibly dampening athletes’ spirits. Overall, the study highlights the important role coaches’ facial expressions play in shaping athletes’ emotions and physiological responses, ultimately impacting their performance and the coach-athlete relationship.
Take home:
- Non-verbal cues have a significant impact on sports coaching.
- Subtle differences in coaches’ facial expressions can significantly affect athletes’ heart rates and emotional experiences.
- Coaches should be mindful of their non-verbal behaviour, as it can impact the coach-athlete relationship and athlete performance.
The full article can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374925523_A_Smile_Can_Go_a_Long_Way_The_Effects_of_Dominant_and_Rewarding_Smiles_of_Coaches_on_Athletes_in_an_Evaluative_Performance_Context
