Didn’t they tell you as a child: “Well, why are you frowning? Smile!”, and you were still distantly looking at the world around you from under your forehead, hanging on your mother’s hand. Everything is extremely simple: a sullen appearance reveals your mood and facial expression. We often notice the smiles on the faces of our interlocutors. Welcoming and warm - it can evoke a positive reaction to the person smiling; it can express understanding and sympathy, emphasize sarcasm or dissatisfaction. You can’t imagine how many types of smiles there are and what different meanings they have.
Psychologists have repeatedly noted that by a smile you can recognize not only a person’s mood, but also his character, inclinations, and personality type. Unconsciously, each of us can distinguish a smile “sarcasm” from “I’m so glad to see you,” but this is only a small fraction of all types of smiles and their meanings in psychology.
From this article you will learn what most smiles mean, and you will easily be able to assess the reaction of your interlocutors to you and others.
Sincerity
Did it seem to you that the person smiling at you was somehow unfriendly and insincere with you? In most cases, this is true. Our subconscious independently evaluates a smile, facial expressions, curves and sends a signal of sincerity. It is very easy to distinguish a forced smile, as psychologists report. Pay attention to your mouth muscles and eye movements. Of course, we can put on a smile, but moving pupils are difficult to control, especially at the moment of lying or insincerity. With a sincere smile, the muscles of the mouth stretch, corners form, teeth are exposed, and the eyes narrow, forming wrinkles. A sincere smile is always honest because it occurs automatically and unconsciously.
An insincere “brow” is asymmetrical, most often one side is more curved than the other, and the eyes do not narrow. If a person smiles only with his lips, he is being dishonest with you. You can see this type of smile in a photo when the photographer asks you to smile or says “cheese.”
Thus, to find out whether a smile is sincere, it is enough to pay attention to the eyes. Be careful with this type of smile: if the fake “brow” is too wide, due to the raised cheeks, you may think that the eyes have become narrower. In this case, pay attention to the symmetry of the eyebrows; a sincere smile lowers the tips of the eyebrows down.
Form style
Dentists distinguish three styles of smiles. Moreover, for them this is not empty fun. They must understand what needs to be preserved. Before making “European-quality repairs” to the mouth, patients, together with the doctor, carefully study and record their smile. You can carry out preliminary diagnostics yourself. Go to the mirror, remember something funny and stretch your lips with pleasure.
The most common style is spike (commissural) - approximately 67% of the population has it. This is what it looks like: the corners of the mouth are raised up and to the sides, the upper teeth are exposed. The lower edge of the smile runs along the incisal edge of the upper central incisors. Next, this line rises to the maxillary molars and runs 1–3 mm higher than the cutting edge of the upper incisors. The size of such a smile can vary from 7 to 22 mm between the lips. The average angle is 40 degrees. When comparing the left and right sides, there may be a difference in the movement pattern.
This style of smile unites Audrey Hepburn and Jennifer Aniston, Frank Sinatra and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Approximately a third of the entire earth's population has a canine style . Unlike the spike style, in which sometimes even the eighth teeth are visible, this style is more closed and has a poetic name - “gull wing”. It is characterized by the display of fangs, then the corners of the mouth rise up and stretch to the sides. Often the corners of the mouth remain below the maxillary canines. The smile ends at the level of 5–6 upper molars.
This style characterizes the smile of Elvis Presley, Tom Cruise, Drew Barrymore, Sharon Stone, Linda Evangelista.
Only 2% of people in the world have a mixed The shape of the lips when smiling looks like two parallel chevrons. The levator labii superioris and anguli oris and the depressor labii inferioris muscles work simultaneously to expose the upper and lower teeth.
The mixed smile style was immortalized by: Marilyn Monroe, Julia Roberts, Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey.
Smile “at 32” or pursed lips
An open or closed smile is the most obvious and extremely simple classification. The type of smile depends on the temperament of the individual, on the atmosphere in which communication takes place. Some people smile only with their lips, while others smile with all their 32 teeth. It is difficult to tell about a certain mood from such a smile; rather, such a classification will help determine the temperament of the person talking to you.
More often than not, people who don't show their teeth are the control type. This type is stingy with emotions, often suppressing them until they disappear completely. Such smiles are often mistaken for a contemptuous grimace rather than a sign of sincere sympathy for you. Such people, a priori, should not be trusted. Have you noticed that the person talking to you makes promises with pursed lips? Know that he is unlikely to be sincere; most likely, he is talking to you for his own benefit.
The opposite type of people, with an open smile, are more sincere and relaxed around you. He is sensitive and knows how to win over. You can easily trust such people, but do not forget how to distinguish sincerity, because there are plenty of open fakes. The eyes will help you, a sincere open smile is accompanied by glowing, joyful eyes.
Mysterious
Brings back pleasant memories. Yes, you usually smile like that to yourself when you look through photographs, listen to music, you associate it with something pleasant. Maybe it is written on your face when you dream, make plans for the future...
In this case, only the corners of the mouth are raised. Your chosen one, of course, noticed this type of smile on you several times and asked what you were thinking about... Maybe he hoped that you were remembering a situation related to him? What kind of smile does he have at these moments?
Half smile
More often it is taken as a sign of contempt and is slightly mistaken. Such a smile rather speaks of arrogance. This species belongs to manipulators and seducers, one of the most dangerous types.
Would you like to know something about yourself? Smile! First with the left corner of the lips, then with the right. Which corner looks more natural on you? Left suggests that you are a mocker, and you are also prone to spontaneously arising emotions. This is explained by the fact that the left half belongs to the hemisphere responsible for our emotions.
And the right corner says that you, comrade, are a cynic! Cynics are tougher, they are often able to notice all his interlocutor’s shortcomings, and are often fueled by bitterness. They are not subject to enthusiasm and avoid entertainment. But they have excellent resistance to frustration.
Smile according to all rules
What is the most important thing in a person's image? A smiling and charming person becomes the life of the party; it is pleasant to communicate with such an individual. However, an ugly smile can instantly ruin the impression. How to smile correctly to win over your interlocutor?
Symmetry comes first
You should smile from both corners of your mouth, and not by distorting your lips like the Nike logo. You should practice symmetry in front of a mirror. You need to find the position in which your smile looks as natural as possible, and then learn how to fix it. Learn to hold your lips in a good position for at least 15-20 seconds.
Keep your lips beautiful
Well-groomed lips always attract attention. Do not neglect your care products, make sure that the surface of your lips and the dermis around them is moisturized, without cracks or rashes.
The main thing is sincerity
What kind of smile is there? Insincere, radiant, unnatural, sarcastic - there are a lot of options. If you want to leave a good impression of yourself, try to smile from your heart so that smiling rays play in your eyes.
Child's smile
This type of smile can also be called naive. Pay attention if your interlocutor sends you such a smile. The trace of a child's soul is clearly visible in her. Probably, such a smile can be put on par with a sincere, childishly warm smile. A naive smile can brighten up a gray mood, reduce the intensity of passions, and shelter from anxiety.
Unfortunately, people with a naive smile are easy to manipulate; they are very impressive, childishly trusting and compassionate.
Polite
Used as a courtesy. When we meet someone, wish them a good day, in general, she appears when we simply have to smile.
Of course, everyone knows what a smile looks like in this case. You can often notice it from a saleswoman in a store who, approaching you, asks: “How can I help?” When you are at a party and meeting new people, this smile probably also appears. Maybe this is the polite smile you greet your boyfriend at the first meeting or business partners when concluding important contracts.
Smile!
Remember that your smile is not only an indicator of your mood, but also a powerful weapon that will help you more than once in your future life.
A smile will help to seduce, attract, win over, and repel. A real smile seems to light up your face. A pleasant curve of the lips and slightly exposed teeth will help express your feelings and impressions.
Hone your charming smile with various exercises and gymnastics for the facial muscles (psychotonic gymnastics). By training, exercising your muscles and studying the meanings of different types of smiles, you will become the owner of not only the most charming, sincere and attractive smile, but also get your hands on a weapon that can work better than hypnosis. This gymnastics is very simple and very useful.
This is such an interesting psychology and types of smiles. No matter how many variations of smiles there are, remember, if you want to win someone over, use only a sincere, friendly smile: they are the most welcoming, seductive and warm.
We believe that in the future, knowledge about the types of smiles and their meanings will be useful to you; with it, you will easily determine the hidden reactions of people and learn to win over you. Smile more often, only sincerely.
What emotions hide our smiles
12 April 2021, 09:14
Our smile can hide a lot of different emotions and feelings, and not all of them are positive, explains the BBC Future columnist.
Our smile can hide a lot of different emotions and feelings, and not all of them are positive, explains the BBC Future columnist.
The blade of a knife flashed above the heads of the victims, the execution is about to take place, Carney Landis gives the last instructions.
It is 1924, Carney Landis, a student at the University of Minnesota, is conducting an experiment with a group of his classmates, teachers and patients at a psychiatric clinic, including a 13-year-old boy.
To create a relaxed atmosphere, he changed his clothes, hid his laboratory equipment, draped the windows, and hung pictures on the walls.
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Landis wants to determine the role of facial expressions in the expression of various emotions, such as pain or shock. For this purpose, he is ready to make sure that the participants in the experiment actually experience them. He sat them down in comfortable chairs, and then visually shaded their facial lines to better see the grimaces reflected on their faces.
For three hours, he recorded the emotions of the experiment participants, making them the objects of bizarre and unpleasant jokes. Either fireworks exploded under their chair, or they were shocked while they felt a bucket of slippery frogs. To top it all off, Landis brought a live white rat into the room and asked him to cut off its head.
Such methods undoubtedly violated any norms of scientific ethics, but the results of his research are impressive. Even in the most brutal experiments, the most typical reaction of people was not tears or anger - but a smile.
But how can this be explained?
Fast forward to 2021. A smile under any circumstances no longer surprises anyone. This pattern of interaction is widespread: people smile at us from magnets on the refrigerator, billboards, covers of instruction books “How to become happy in 10 days,” and sometimes just random passers-by. Smiling people make a good impression and seem friendlier.
However, everything is not so simple. Of the 19 types of smiles, only six indicate a good mood. The rest reflect a range of unpleasant feelings - embarrassment, awkwardness, or even fear and suffering. A smile can express contempt, anger and mistrust, as well as lies and confusion.
A sincere, joyful smile appears on our face when we have done something for our own well-being; it expresses a feeling of satisfaction. But other types of smiles, on the contrary, carry different information.
“Some of them arose as a way to show that we are not a threat and are willing to cooperate, while others, without aggression, communicate to the opponent that in this situation we are stronger than him,” says Paula Niedenthal, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Polite smiles mean we are willing to follow the rules. But they can also be an effective way of manipulating others or distracting them from our true feelings.
Most often, this universal symbol of happiness is used as a mask.
Duchenne's smile
The first attempts to find out the “secret” of a sincere smile were made in the 19th century by the French physiologist Guillaume Duchenne.
The scientist resorted to stimulating facial muscles using electrical discharges. Since this procedure was very painful, he first conducted his experiments using the severed heads of revolutionaries. But Duchenne was lucky - he had at his disposal a patient from one of the Parisian clinics who suffered from facial paralysis. The doctor conducted many experiments with him, connecting electrodes to various muscles and obtaining a variety of facial expressions.
In total, Duchenne recorded 60 facial expressions, each of which was produced by a separate group of facial muscles.
In one of the photographs taken by Duchesne, his ward smiles widely with a toothless mouth. This intense facial expression was named after him - the "Duchenne smile", or a sincere smile that expresses pleasure and happiness. Its distinctive feature is the characteristic wrinkles in the corners of the eyes, the so-called “crow’s feet”.
“Scientists, however, have found that among some peoples, a sincere smile does not necessarily have to be accompanied by the presence of crow’s feet,” notes Professor Niedenthal.
This brings us to a question that has occupied the minds of scientists from Darwin to Freud. Are our facial expressions instinctive and universal for all people, or are they dependent on culture and upbringing?
Smile of fear
Observations of our closest brothers can clarify something in this matter. Despite the fact that a sincere smile is considered the most natural, it actually comes from facial expressions with a completely different meaning. “When chimpanzees feel fear, they grin,” explains Zanna Clay, a primatologist at the University of Birmingham.
Getty Images French aristocrats, enjoying life in modern fashionable cafes, brought back the fashion for smiling
This is a submission gesture that chimpanzees use in the presence of dominant individuals of the group. And although we do not associate a person’s smiling face with a sense of danger, there is ample evidence that our sincere smile comes from such obsequious facial expressions.
In children, for example, a wide smile can mean both pleasure and pain. And men, as studies have shown, smile more often in the presence of people with higher status.
Darwin believed that facial expressions were instinctive and initially served practical functions. For example, when a person raises his eyebrows in surprise, this increases his field of vision, which apparently helped our ancestors see a predator in ambush. A smile with a grin indicates a readiness to defend itself and bite.
To prove his theory, Darwin showed his friends photographs of people with different facial expressions taken by Duchenne. All 20 participants in the experiment accurately and unanimously identified emotions in 11 photographs. So Darwin came to the conclusion that emotions among people of different nationalities are expressed using universal facial expressions.
"Unhappy Smile"
We now know that smiling really does happen instinctively, and not just when we experience pleasure. A slightly asymmetrical curve of the lips with an expression of deep sorrow in the eyes is a “miserable smile” that expresses stoicism - “clench your teeth and endure.”
Researchers discovered this type of smile by using hidden cameras to film people who had watched horrific scenes of violence in movies, as well as in patients suffering from depression. This is a socially acceptable way to show that you are sad or hurt.
Getty Images The gloating grin has become the hallmark of horror movie villains.
In 2009, researchers at the University of San Francisco discovered that this facial expression is hardwired into our DNA.
Analyzing more than 4,800 photographs of Olympic athletes, they found that this smile typically appeared on the faces of silver medalists who lost the competition at the last minute. Interestingly, the athletes who were blind from birth had the same facial expression.
Discreet smile
However, a sincere smile was not always in fashion. So in the 17th century it was considered indecent to openly express one’s emotions. Smiling and showing teeth was a sign of plebeianism.
The “Smile Revolution” did not occur until a century later, when French aristocrats, enjoying life in newly opened fashionable cafes, brought back the fashion for a happy expression.
However, in many countries, significant changes in the field of etiquette have not occurred. For example, a popular Russian proverb says: “Laughter without a reason is a sign of a fool.” And a handbook for foreign workers published by the Norwegian government notes that if you mistook a smiling stranger for a drunk, crazy or American, then you have lived in Norway long enough.
“When we hold back a smile, we pull the corners of our mouth down or purse our lips, as if to say, ‘I shouldn’t smile,’” explains Zara Ambadar, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh.
This explains why in Japan, where etiquette requires one to restrain emotions in public, smiling with the eyes is common. It’s interesting that the Japanese even express a smile differently in writing: ^ _ ^ instead of :).
The desire to smile may be universal, but how appropriate a smile is and how it is interpreted depends on the rules and norms of the culture.
Shy smile
It is very similar to the reserved one, but is usually accompanied by a blush or preceded by an awkward situation. When smiling bashfully, a person also often tilts his head down and slightly to the left.
Learned smile
This is the smile you receive from a supermarket employee who, after you have stood in line, kindly informs you that “goods are returned on the fourth floor.” Or a hotel administrator who explains that available rooms will appear no earlier than in a year.
A practiced smile is designed to soften unpleasant news. It is characterized by a slightly raised lower lip and a slight tilt of the head to the side. This is perhaps the most unpleasant of all smiles, since it often causes the other person to involuntarily smile back.
Getty Images Russian proverb says: “Laughter for no reason is a sign of foolishness.”
The learned smile is very similar to the previous three, although they are used under different circumstances.
This is a smile that demonstrates agreement; it is resorted to by the listener, who, along with the characteristic “uh-huh,” assures that he is closely following the progress of the conversation.
Disdainful grin
Another deceptive facial expression that shows a mixture of disgust, indignation and contempt. A contemptuous grin is very similar to a sincere grin, but the corners of the lips are usually compressed.
In Eastern culture, which is less focused on meeting the needs of the individual, negative emotions are hidden behind a polite smile.
“In my home country of Indonesia, anger is considered an unacceptable emotion in society, so when people are angry, they tend to smile a lot,” says Zara Ambadar.
Malicious grin
For obvious reasons, such an emotion as joy due to the failure of another must be hidden. But this is not always easy to do. “If a person is sure that he is not being seen, he expresses gloating with a wide, joyful smile - a “Duchenne smile,” says psychologist at the University of Zurich Jennifer Hoffman.
However, when they look at us, we try to hide our gloating by putting on an indignant face. The result is a rather creepy grin that has become the hallmark of horror movie villains.
Getty Images Silver medalist Allison Felix smiles on the podium after losing gold at the 2021 Olympics
Mixed facial expressions are also characteristic of other similar types of smiles, which can express flattering contempt, pleasant tickling of the nerves, or sweet melancholy.
Fake grin
This type of smile accompanies a greeting and a polite response, “Everything is fine,” when we hide our true feelings.
Smiling is a universal way to make yourself attractive, so if you smile at your reflection in the fitting room mirror, you are more likely to buy what you tried on. This is evidenced by the results of a study conducted in 2013.
A smile makes people more sincere when they tell lies. As American comedian Keene Hubbard joked: “If you haven’t seen your wife smile at a policeman, you haven’t seen her charming smile.”
But how do you know that they are smiling at you sincerely?
If the smile is insincere, it may be too sudden or, on the contrary, prolonged. It looks unnatural and is out of sync with what we are saying. There is more to an open smile than the squinting of the eyes or the shine of the teeth.
Flirty smile
Any classification of smiles would be incomplete without the famous smile of Mona Lisa. Despite its mystery, it was not difficult to determine its meaning. Psychologists have long come to the conclusion that Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece depicts flirtatious flirtation.
His model apparently smiled widely, looking into the distance, and then furtively glanced to the side, and a fleeting, shy smile froze on her face.
So the next time you are asked to smile, remember that you have many options in your arsenal on how you can do it.
You can read the original version of this article in English on the BBC Future website.
Julia Roberts
The owner of the “standard” Hollywood smile conquered fans long before she used the services of orthodontists. Today, 30 years after her triumphant appearance in films, the heroine of the movie “Pretty Woman” continues to charm audiences with her smile thanks to perfectly matched porcelain crowns.
Dentist advice
Porcelain crowns provide excellent aesthetic results. In addition, they do not cause allergic reactions and are suitable for people with increased sensitivity to cold and heat.
What are veneers
Veneers are thin ceramic shells that are attached to the outer surface of the teeth in the smile area. Literally translated, the word “veneer” means “veneer.” These plates completely cover natural teeth, masking any defects, just like ceramic tiles cover gray primed walls in a bathroom.
Despite their elegance, veneers are very reliable. They last for many years, and with proper care can remain with a person for life. The veneers are attached to the teeth after a little grinding using a special glue, which is completely safe and non-toxic, but at the same time reliably and firmly connects the veneer to the enamel.
General benefits of veneers
- Makes teeth much more beautiful and brighter.
- The procedure is gentle; very little grinding of teeth is required to install veneers.
- Getting veneers doesn't hurt.
- They do not cause discomfort, you do not need to get used to them, they do not hurt.
- Throughout their service life (15 years or more!), veneers retain their natural color and shape.
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Improved interpersonal relationships
We may contact and interact with people for various reasons. Sometimes these are family ties or romantic relationships, and sometimes business and professional relationships. But even with colleagues, partners and clients, we can use a smile as a way to improve the quality of contacts. Regardless of the purely business sphere of interaction, a pleasant smile will help create a good impression of the person using it.
The brain remembers pleasant experiences because they make us feel better. We remember very well people who evoke positive emotions in us, and at the next meeting we try to respond in kind. Smiling means forming an emotional connection, which in any case will have a positive impact on other levels of interaction with people.
How veneers protect your smile
As we have already noted, veneers are very thin, so they do not require deep grinding of the enamel. This keeps teeth intact and allows you to avoid serious interference with healthy tissue. In addition, veneers completely cover the teeth, and if they already suffer from sensitivity, veneers act as a protective barrier and prevent pain and enamel breakdown. Veneers are also safe for gums - in this area they are much thinner, so they do not injure soft and sensitive tissues.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Before conquering the sports Olympus, the world-famous football player cared little about his appearance. However, it was she who ultimately allowed him to become famous as the face of several global brands. The athlete’s charismatic smile also played a significant role in this - according to dentists, Ronaldo spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on whitening, straightening and installing veneers.
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Dentist advice
Installing veneers allows you to achieve a triple effect: straightening your teeth, improving their shape and improving their color. However, if the condition of your teeth allows, it is better to straighten and whiten them using alternative methods - if you want to remove the veneers, your teeth will have to be restored for a long time.
