We often associate a smile with giddy happiness, affiliation, and even dominance. Though it is an easy way to show emotion, a smile has powerful psychological effects. We are attracted to people who smile, and this emotion is contagious. Even if the smile is not genuine, it is easy to recognize when it is. In this article, we’ll look at the various kinds of smiles and how they can be interpreted by others.
Commissure: About 2% of people have this type of smile, which is characterized by parallel chevrons. This type of smile involves all of the muscles of the mouth, displaying all teeth at the same time. Often, the levator labii superioris (the muscles in the muscles that flex the mouth) contract first, exposing the cuspids. The corners of the mouth also contract, pulling the lips upward, usually at a lower level than the height of the maxillary cuspids. Another type of smile, the commissure, is characterized by continuous convexity of the upper lip and lower lip.
Duchenne de Boulogne was a 19th century neurologist who was fascinated with the mechanics of facial expressions. He first discovered that the mouth can be manipulated into a smile more easily than the eyes. This finding contradicts the traditional notion that a smile is a universal emotion. In addition to its positive emotional effects, it also shows the power of human connection. And while we’re all unique, smiles do not represent all of our emotions.
In the same way as a smile’s ability to predict happiness, it has been shown to influence how we view ourselves. For instance, it can signal our intentions. The Duchenne smile is a powerful signal of altruism. In a study conducted by the British behavioral scientist Marc Mehu, participants who shared money with a friend displayed greater levels of Duchenne smiles than those who did not. So a genuine smile can reliably advertise our altruistic intentions.
A recent study found that women with the most attractive smiles were more likely to be married. Furthermore, smiling women had a higher level of happiness. Another study showed that people who show embarrassment smiles also have a lower head tilt and their gaze shift to the left. These people also touch their face more often. In addition, a 2009 study confirmed that people who are embarrassed also tend to show shorter and smaller smiles. So, if you’re feeling down, remember to smile!
Keeping a positive outlook and smiling are also linked to higher productivity. Studies have shown that smiling improves our productivity. In addition to this, smiling makes us more attractive, trustworthy, and approachable. Whether we’re in a business meeting or simply chatting with friends, smiling is one of the easiest ways to start a conversation. And it also improves our overall mood. So, if you want to improve your health and your social life, smile more!