The 19 types of smile, according to Duchenne de Boulogne

The first to intuit that there were different types of smile was a 19th century French doctor called Duchenne de Boulogne.. At least that’s what we know. This man is considered one of the pioneers of neurology and an authority on smiles.

Over time, the basic findings of Duchenne de Boulogne have been fully validated. He was obsessed with the use of electricity for medical and therapeutic purposes. In particular, he focused on the study of motor expressions. One of the topics he explored in depth was the types of smiles.

During his investigations he found a man who suffered from facial insensitivity. This allowed him to connect a good number of electrodes to her face, without causing discomfort. Thus managed to identify the different muscle groups involved in the expressions facials.

He also managed to identify 19 different types of smiles.. Likewise, he was able to establish that only six of them are really authentic, that is, they truly reflect pleasure, joy or happiness. The others are smiles that express very different feelings, which include fear, anger, contempt and several more. These are the most interesting.

Sad smile types

Although it may seem strange, sometimes sadness It has the shape of a smile. There are several types of smiles that reflect painful feelings and are expressed in situations in which there is some positive element, compared to one or more negative ones. Some of these sad smiles are the following:

The miserable smile. The lips smile slightly asymmetrically, but there is a deep expression of sadness in the eyes. According to a study by the University of San Francisco, it is the typical smile of those who win the silver medal in the Olympic Games.The scary smile. Sometimes you smile out of fear. It happens when someone feels helpless and smiles to show that they have no hostile plans towards the other. It is also the type of smile that is usually displayed before people considered of higher status.Loneliness smile. It is a barely perceptible smile that is sometimes accompanied by a slight expression of sadness. Its main characteristic is that it only manifests itself when we are in complete solitude. It is not a shared smile.

social smiles

Basically all smiles are social, but some fulfill very specific roles in relationships with others. These are more or less calculated expressions, which always arise depending on others. Within this type of smiles we find:

The suppressed smile. It has to do with those types of smiles that are repressed for some reason. It is a genuine expression of happiness, but it is considered inappropriate and therefore ends up being held back. In them the muscular effort of restraint is more visible than the smile itself.The fake smile. It is the typical polite smile that we show when we want to be nice to others, but we are not authentically happy. Its main characteristic is that the corners of the lips are raised, but the eyes remain expressionless.The shameful smile. It’s the kind of smile that happens when we feel embarrassed. It is frequently accompanied by a slight tilt of the head and, often, blushing. In this case, laughter plays the role of trying to reduce tension in the situation.Flirty smile. It is a smile that has something insinuating and, therefore, enigmatic. Almost always her eyes narrow slightly, showing an expression of mischief. Connoisseurs point out that the Mona Lisa is a perfect example of this smile.

The aggressive smiles

Within the types of smile that Duchenne de Boulogne discovered There are also those that actually have a meaning completely opposite to the essence of smiling.. They are expressions of rejection, contempt or even cruelty towards others. Within this type of smiles we find:

malicious smile. It is what arises when we expressly rejoice in the evil of others. It is shown to the other in an obvious way that his misfortune generates happiness for us. It’s the typical smile of villains.Smile of contempt. In this case, the smile is there, but the rest of the face shows anger. It occurs when, for example, we feel that someone has ridiculed us and others laugh.qualifying smile. It is one that tries to make something that is obviously unpleasant more pleasant. Like the one from the salesperson who tells you: “The promotion is sold out.”

There is also, of course, the “Duchenne smile”, which is the most genuine and the one that most corresponds to the essential meaning of a smile. It is characterized because not only the lips laugh, but the entire face, especially the eyes. It is the most authentic and also the most powerful.

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