What is bitchy face syndrome and how to live with it

What is Bitch Face Syndrome?

In 2013, a two-minute video of Bitchy Resting Face appeared on YouTube.
The video instantly became popular, receiving almost eight million views and three thousand comments. The heroines of the video raise the problem of the “bitchy face” and tell how it ruins their lives. “I don’t want to hit you,” says one of the victims of the syndrome. “It’s just my face.” The Lifehacker Telegram channel contains only the best texts about technology, relationships, sports, cinema and much more. Subscribe!

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This problem existed before, but after the video they started talking about it seriously. The essence of the syndrome is that the face of its owner in a relaxed state looks angry and unfriendly, although the person does not actually experience these emotions. Due to certain features of appearance, facial expressions can express dissatisfaction, contempt and anger, as well as ridicule, irritation or sadness.

People with Bitchface Syndrome come across as snobby, a serial killer, or an angry high school math girl.

As a result, strangers often make a premature conclusion that it is better not to approach this person, and friends pester over and over again with the question: “Are you okay?” The most famous victims of the syndrome are Anna Kendrick, Kristen Stewart, Victoria Beckham, Queen Elizabeth and Kanye West.

RBF Syndrome is an Effect, Not a Cause

A bitchy face is often characteristic of teenagers. They hide their vulnerability behind a mask of contempt and indifference. But if we see such a face on an adult, it means that emotionally he is still at the level of a teenager - at the level of self-affirmation by devaluing others.

“A bitchy face is not a cause, but a consequence,” said Alexander Shakhov . — An arrogant, contemptuous attitude towards people, where does it come from? This is a mask, an armor that hides a vulnerable soul and self-doubt. In order not to experience the pain of rejection, some people decide to devalue others in advance, because if the “unworthy” do not accept you, then there is no resentment: “What can they, the poor ones, understand?”

Self-doubt interferes with life. Psychology has long proven that high healthy self-esteem is the basis of a quality life.

Without it, neither harmonious relationships, nor creative realization, nor general satisfaction with the present are possible. After all, no matter how much money you earn, no matter how many heights you achieve in your career, as long as you are dissatisfied with yourself, there will be no happiness. Therefore, there is only one way to deal with a bitchy face - to raise your self-esteem and develop self-confidence.

Why does the face look bitchy?

Neuroscientists conducted the experiment Throwing Shade: The Science of Resting Bitch Face, during which they scanned more than 10 thousand pictures of human faces using a special program. And we came to the conclusion that a face is never 100% neutral. The normal rate is 97% neutral and 3% other emotions. However, “bitchy” people have a lower level of neutrality: it is only 94%. And the percentage of emotions is correspondingly higher - as much as 6%. Moreover, the predominant one among them is contempt.

The expression of negative emotions in a calm state is a consequence of the characteristics of the facial muscles. Here are the main ones:

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Most often, spasmed facial muscles and slow blood circulation and lymph flow are to blame. Another reason is poor posture, in which the entire muscle layer of the face shifts. The clarity of the oval is lost, ptosis and swelling appear, the corners of the lips creep down, and the nasolabial folds become deeper.

In addition, the external signs of angry face syndrome can also be a consequence of poor vision: a person squints all the time, straining his facial muscles, and over time this becomes a habit.

Negative and positive emotional signs

The founder of the Belle Allure beauty institute, Elena Vasilyeva, notes that some people’s faces may look sad, angry or tired, despite the fact that the person has recently rested and does not experience negative emotions. The problem lies in physiological manifestations that can be inherent in nature, or in age-related changes.

For example, drooping corners of the eyes, drooping eyebrows, drooping cheekbones, and bags under the eyes create the impression of a sad face. A feature of the facial structure in which the corners of the eyebrows droop is called the “Pierrot effect” - people with this problem look as if they are about to cry.

Why are the main victims of the syndrome women?

A study found in Throwing Shade: The Science of Resting Bitch Face that bitch face syndrome affects both men and women. This is a general problem and not gender specific. Any person, regardless of gender, can have downturned corners of the mouth, frowned eyebrows and insufficiently open eyes, but the paradox is that men do not suffer from bitchy face syndrome.

Scientists explain Resting bitch face' is real, scientists say this by saying that the phenomenon is associated not with physiology, but with social norms. For men, a serious, stern or even angry face is normal. In the mass consciousness it is associated Brooding men, smiling women seen as sexy: study with strength, intelligence, determination and sexuality.

Nobody calls men bitches if their face looks serious or sad.

Women with a serious or stern face are often accused of being arrogant. And it's all about gender stereotypes. There is a social construct in society: “A woman should be gentle.” It developed in previous centuries, when a girl in society was assigned the role of a housewife and a “good wife.” She did not have financial independence and equality with men, and the smile on her face was a sign of submission.

Much has changed since then, but the social attitude remains. Women with less than friendly appearance still suffer from Brooding men, smiling women seen as sexy: study due to gender stereotypes. They can easily be called bitches because of an unfriendly facial expression, denied a job, or spread a lot of gossip behind their back.

Art project by American artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh Stop telling women to smile (“Stop telling women to smile”), edition.cnn.com

Is it necessary to fight

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-portrait-hands-portrait-woman-1148942/
Whether bitchy face syndrome needs to be corrected is a very individual question. The problem is how important it is for the person himself! If an eternally dissatisfied appearance interferes, for example, with career growth, then efforts can be made to resolve the situation. Otherwise, you need to think about whether this is necessary at all?

We are us, with those traits and emotions that we have experienced and received in the past. And is it worth changing this evidence of one’s own past? Every wrinkle in the corners of the eyes and lips is a previously experienced experience. Perhaps it’s better to just avoid too much stress in life?

And if you are already faced with worries, perhaps you need to work, rather, with your own mood and try to rid yourself of stress. And then, quite likely, pleasant and positive emotions will supplant the negative facial expression.

How the syndrome ruins your life

People judge How your looks betray your personality about others based on their appearance. And no matter how hard we try to change it, the first impression is formed Social Attributions from Faces: Determinants, Consequences, Accuracy and Functional Significance in one tenth of a second - faster than a person has time to realize something. At the same time, the brain has stable reactions to certain facial features:

• An outwardly attractive person seems to us Social Attributions from Faces: Determinants, Consequences, Accuracy and Functional Significance more competent and intelligent.
• A pronounced chin, a large nose, and a narrow face are associated with power and a tendency to dominate.
• Big eyes or an open look are kindness, naivety, humility.
• People with wide faces and chubby cheeks seem kind and open.

Scientists have compiled three types illustrating the “reliability scale”: on the left - unreliable, in the center - neutral, on the right - reliable, journals.plos.org
Based on all this, a person with bitchy face syndrome will almost always make a bad first impression. People around him may think that he is an arrogant snob and despises everyone, although in reality this is not at all the case. This can be a hindrance both at a party and during a job interview or at a business meeting. It has been proven that people with attractive appearance are more successful and earn 10-12% more Dan Hamermesh on the Economics of Beauty: Attractive People Are More Successful.

How to recognize the syndrome in yourself

Check your appearance using the FaceReader program. The photograph should show the face from the front and in a relaxed, calm state. The higher the quality of the photo, the more accurate the result.

A significant disadvantage of the program is that it does not give the percentage of emotions, so it is impossible to say for sure whether you have the syndrome. But if contempt is present or predominates among the emotions, then there is a possibility that you still have it. Here are the results Lifehacker employees had:

The face of Lifehacker presenter Irina Rogava is neutral, but expresses surprise, fear, disgust and contempt

The face of our videographer Olesya Shishko is neutral, but the predominant emotion is happiness

The face of the author Lisa Platonova in a calm state expresses surprise, anger and contempt

In addition, there are indirect signs of the syndrome:

• You don't recognize yourself in photographs.
• They constantly tell you: “Don’t be sad,” and ask you to smile.
• You are often asked: “Are you dissatisfied with something?”
• You have a reputation as a tough person, although you don’t know what you did to deserve it.
• They don’t ask you for directions on the street, they don’t introduce you to you and they pass you by.

Replace the animal grin with a smile

Speaking about the “angry” facial expression, one cannot help but touch on the dental part of the problem. A smile is the hallmark of our kindness and beauty.

“If, due to the poor condition of the teeth, a person is ashamed of his smile and tries to avoid it, then the muscle around the mouth atrophies,” says dentist, candidate of medical sciences Dmitry Smirnov. “A person loses the ability to smile naturally, and in a relaxed state, an unpleasant facial expression may appear.”

According to Dmitry Smirnov, anger “lives” in the lower jaw. Tension in the dental system is primarily associated with emotions. It’s not for nothing that they say: endure with clenched teeth. At the moment when a person clenches his teeth, the large masticatory muscle (musculus masseter) works. The more often we are in stressful situations, the more angry we are, the stronger this muscle develops, pumping up, like an athlete’s biceps. In common parlance this process is referred to as “rolling the nodules.” They are the ones who emphasize the cheekbones and angles of the jaw, which, on the one hand, speak of brutality and strength of personality, and, on the other hand, reveal frequent expressions of anger and rage and can even visually add several years. Constant stress provokes active physical growth of the masticatory muscle, leads to disturbances in the functioning of the temporomandibular joint, and any imbalance in the system increases the load on the teeth, which ultimately destroys them. So, without the ability to control yourself, to maintain a beautiful smile, you should contact a specialist in functional dentistry.

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How to live with bitchy face syndrome

Do a facial massage

It is not able to remove wrinkles and rejuvenate. But there is still an effect: the procedure helps Analysis of morphological changes after facial massage by a novel approach using three-dimensional computed tomography tighten the oval, cope with tight muscles and relax them. In addition, after a massage, the face looks fresher and more rested.

Massage can be done by a cosmetologist or on your own. There are many special devices for this that greatly simplify the process. Important: to get results, massage must be done regularly.

Work on your facial expressions

You can be yourself in the company of friends and family, but if you want to make a good impression in public, you have to control your emotions.

For example, you want to look more friendly when communicating: try to smile slightly, slightly straining and raising your cheeks. The corners of your lips will also automatically rise. This half-smile looks natural and does not cause rejection among others.

Sometimes a contemptuous expression arises due to an insufficiently open look: it seems that a person looks at everyone arrogantly. In such a situation, you need to try to open your eyes a little wider: your gaze will become more open and less depressed.

Correct your face with makeup

• The look may appear depressed or tired due to the looming eyelid. The problem can be corrected with makeup: draw arrows and lightly touch the inner corners of the eyes with light shadows or a pencil. The “tail” of the arrow should point upward. Don't lower it so that your gaze doesn't seem sad.
• To give your face a fresh look, apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend them out.
• Don't use foundation that is too thick if you have noticeable wrinkles. The tone will gather in the folds, emphasizing them.

Contact a cosmetologist

Manifestations of bitchy face syndrome can be removed with the help of cosmetics: smooth out expression wrinkles on the forehead and bridge of the nose with Botox, lift the corners of the lips, and fill nasolabial folds with hyaluronic acid filler. But this is a last resort. Perhaps you should start by working on your self-esteem rather than getting injections.

Stress changes facial expression, gait and even voice: what to do about it

✓ Facial expression: “This is terrible!”

Pessimists perceive any stress very painfully. For example, they can’t “come to their senses” for a long time simply by talking to an unkind saleswoman. They are constrained in their movements and often slouch. The head is lowered, the gaze is slightly under the brows, like that of a person expecting a trick, the corners of the lips are lowered. Until the age of 25, this facial expression even looks attractive - like a slight mysterious sadness. But then the facial expressions become heavier and the impression changes for the worse.

Anti-stress program ● Do exercises, at least the simplest ones. The main thing is a wide range of movements, then the body will begin to sense space (and the world) differently. ● Look for benefits in stress: “Yes, it was hard, but now I…”

Test: How stress-resistant are you? Take a psychological test - answer the questions and calculate your scores.

✓ Facial expression: “Now you will get it from me!”

There are people who are activated by stress. They even begin to feel better. Outwardly they look like they are on a battlefield. The back is straight, feet shoulder-width apart (even if the skirt is narrow), in the hands of a “spear”: pen, pencil, phone, lighter. The chin is slightly raised, the eyes are slightly narrowed, the lips are compressed, tense at the corners, as if before a caustic, ironic remark. There is determination in behavior, firmness in voice. In general, fight stress! It often gets to those around you too.

Anti-stress program ● Wear scarves, stoles, scarves around your neck. The so-called “weakness” accessories will add softness and character. ● Watch your speech. Fewer verbs, more adjectives - they are part of the feminine image and the female type of response to stressful situations.

✓ Facial expression: “How bad am I, poor thing?”

I just want to curl up in a ball under the blanket, hug myself and treat myself to something sweet. The appearance is a bit childish: a straight, long gaze, eyebrows “house-shaped”, lips slightly shaped like a tube. Such women look younger than their age for a long time. But then the lower part of the face becomes sluggish, and wrinkles appear on the forehead. And frequent consolation with sweets does not go unnoticed.

How to stop eating stress with sweets Did you get a little nervous and your hand automatically reached for a chocolate bar or a bun? Here are a few tricks to help you overcome the urge to eat stress.

Anti-stress program ● Master the “Grin” face-building exercise. Clench your teeth, open your mouth slightly, saying “rrrrrr” for 2-3 seconds. Then relax your jaw. 10 times. ● Go for graphic haircuts that reveal your neck, or wear your hair up high. Such hairstyles give the image of determination and independence. ● Calm yourself for exactly half an hour. Then sit down and decide what to do.

! Smile for 5-10 minutes in front of the mirror, “trying on” different smile options. And with the expression you like, go to the people.

✓ Facial expression: “Why is everything like this?”

Yes, because my mother deprived me of attention and tenderness as a child. Or because the husband does not care about the family. You have to do everything yourself, and no gratitude! The reasons may be different, the main thing is that they are always someone else’s fault. Such a person has rapidly changing facial expressions, timbre of voice and speed of speech. During a conversation, he actively gestures and cannot control his hands. The chin is raised high and tense, the eyes are wide open. Over time, fussiness appears in movements.

Anti-stress program ● Start sentences with the words “I think”, “I believe”. Thanks to them, communication with people will become calmer, and your attitude towards situations will become more restrained. ● Do breathing exercises. This will teach you how to manage your anger. Also, regular deep breathing with a longer exhalation is good for health.

! These exercises train a calm perception of what is happening, and at the same time correct your posture: slowly raise and lower your shoulders (10 times), then raise your arms clasped behind your back (10 times)

All diseases are caused by stress, and stress is caused by hormones

Text: Ivan Belokrylov. Consultant: Liana Stepanyan, doctor of the highest category

Corticoliberin

The main “sponsor and customer” of stress reactions. Produced in the brain, concentrated in the pituitary gland (located above the palate). ➤ Problems: almost any. ➤ Advice: to interrupt the production of the hormone, you need to cool down. Submerge your head in a refreshing shower, eat ice cream or suck on an ice cube.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Brings the command of corticoliberin to the “executive organs” - the adrenal glands. And they, in turn, release other stress hormones into the blood. ➤ Problems: headache, muscle tension, pressure surges, heart rhythm disturbances, heartburn. ➤ Tip: massage your scalp or comb your hair with a wooden comb. This will improve cerebral circulation and stop the production of ACTH.

Adrenalin

Helps the body work in unfavorable conditions. It becomes a hormone of aggression only when in excess. ➤ Problems: from outbursts of anger and irritability at the whole body level (for example, irritable bowel syndrome) to sudden heart attacks and strokes, even in very young people. ➤ Advice: give up meat for a while. Its amino acids serve as the basis for hormone synthesis. No meat - no stress!

Norepinephrine

If it predominates, resistance to stress is extremely low. ➤ Problems: hysterics, panic, depression, endless colds. ➤ Tip: warm your palms, which are icy due to spasm of peripheral vessels. The feedback mechanism will work, and the release of the hormone will decrease.

Cortisol

Produced during chronic stress, it takes care of reserves for a rainy day: it increases appetite and causes fat to be deposited on the stomach. ➤ Problems: hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes. ➤ Tip: use your knuckles to massage your back above your lower back; bend forward, backward, and to the sides. This will help reduce cortisol levels.