Thread by @DevLinguistic

Quick question: can you tell which photo shows a genuine smile? Left or right?

Here's how you can find out—and how to use that knowledge in your favor

[Thread]

I'll tell you the answer. . . but first I have to tell you:

A true smile has nothing to do with showing those pearly whites. . .

Or with how wide your grin is. . .

The key to identifying a genuine smile is in the muscles involved

French neurologist Guillaume Duchenne discovered that true smiles of enjoyment involve two different muscle groups

- The zygomatic muscles (which control your mouth)
- The orbicularis oculi muscles (which control the eyelids)

So what does this mean? What does it look like?

A genuine (or Duchenne) smile has the usual curling of the lips. . .

But also lowered eyelids and crow's feet

Ever heard that you smile with your eyes when you are indeed happy?

Turns out that it is fact: a true smile involves your eyes

Compare it to this professional, "posed" smile:

Notice that here there's no crow's feet or lowered eyelids. . . and the cheeks aren't raised to the same level

Why does that happen?

The fact is we have much more voluntary control over the zygomatic muscles than over the orbicularis oculi

When we smile on command (or to hide true feelings), we only use the lips and the mouth

Most smiles release positive hormones in the brain

And help us connect to others and create a better mood

But does the Duchenne smile stand out?

According to psychologist Paul Ekman, yes.

This smile is connected to areas of the brain related to positive affect, memory, and language processing

So it is more powerful both in regulating our own mood and in the effect it has on others

Now, how can we use this knowledge?

1.) Recognizing true smiles

Now that you know the signs, you can use it to identify a true smile

All you have to do is pay attention to the corner of their eyes when they smile. . .

And you'll know if they're smiling for real

You can use that in any interpersonal relationship

You'll be able to tell:
-if someone really enjoyed a gift
-a prospect's true reaction to a proposal
-if friends, family, crushes are happy to see you

Or if they're smiling out of politeness

2.) Faking a Duchenne smile

This one is trickier

Researchers thought for a long time this was impossible, due to little control over the muscles involved. . .

But it can be done

There are a two ways you can try to pull it off:

I- Learn to activate the muscles. Pay attention to when you produce a true smile. Then try to replicate the same facial movement

OR

II- Learn to recall or produce feelings of joy on command. Try recalling a memory that made you produce a true smile

Learning to produce a Duchenne smile on command can be quite valuable

You'll be able to bond more with people, create deeper connections, and develop rapport quicker

You'll also be seen as a positive person

However, a word of warning:

If you exaggerate the crinkling around the eyes, your smile will have a fake appearance.

Think of forced politicians' smiles. That's the kind we're talking about here

So be careful, as a "fake true smile" could get you branded as a liar

Going back to the first photos & recapping all we've said on how a true smile involves

-lip curl
-crow's feet
-raised cheeks
-lowered eyelids

You can now see the picture with a Duchenne smile is the one on the right

Tell me: did you get it right?

Thank you for reading this thread

If you found this useful:

1. Retweet the first tweet in the thread
2. Follow me @DevLinguistic for more advice on speaking and communication

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