The power of the Duchenne smile

They say that the Duchenne smile is the most genuine, that it captivates due to its sincerity. which dazzles with its magic and for the positive emotions it transmits. Thus, of all the gestures that the human face can reflect, this is undoubtedly one of the most attractive and striking, one that the science of smiles has been studying for decades for its powerful effect.

There are those who define smiles as “social greasers.” However, they are much more than that: The human being comes into the world with that social mechanism imprinted in the depths of his DNA.Even blind people smile automatically without ever having seen a smile. It is this spontaneous spring that improves mood, optimizes relationships and allows us to transmit emotions without the need for words.

Now, it should be noted that this wonderful social gesture has several varieties, that not all smiles are the same and that there is one that stands out above the others in a prodigious way. We talk about her, the Duchenne smile, the epitome of genuineness and defined in his day by the doctor, neurologist and pioneer in medical photography Guillaume DuchenneMid-nineteenth century.

Dr. Duchenne, an expert especially in the physiology of movement, wanted to describe and detail how fake smiles differed from authentic ones, and to do so, he detailed step by step how they are drawn and appear on our face. We talk about a gesture It involves a series of muscles of our very complex facial architecture for its formation.

A topic that is undoubtedly interesting and with notable nuances that is worth delving into.

What does the science tell us about the Duchenne smile?

It is very possible that a part of our readers assume the idea that there is a genuine and sincere smile with some skepticism. For those who believe this, it must be said that they are not wrong, because as many may suspect, The Duchenne smile can be imitated and therefore become a false smile with a very specific purpose: seduce, convince, attract, deceive, etc.

Thus, thanks to a study carried out by Tufts University in Massachusetts and published in the journal British Psychological SocietyI can see that, after testing a group of 98 participants, almost 69% of the sample could imitate this type of smile “almost perfectly.”

We say “almost” because a good expert on the Duchenne smile could detect the falsehoodbecause in this social gesture there is a nuance that goes beyond the mouth and that is imprinted in the look: it is emotional authenticity.

How to identify the Duchenne smile?

As Dr. Duchenne himself explained in 1862, the essential characteristic of any smile is the elevation of the corners of the lip, which are raised with the help of the cheek muscles. However, The Duchenne smile has a unique and exceptional nuance, and it is generated by positive emotion and joy, lto which, it is transmitted through a subtle combination of various muscles.

This is a type of smile that originates with the contraction of the zygomaticus major and zygomaticus minor muscles near the mouth, which in turn raise the corners of the lips. Likewise, and here comes the singular nuance, Small wrinkles also form around the eyes when both the cheeks and the orbicularis muscle contract. near the eyes (orbicularis oculi).

How to differentiate a genuine Duchenne smile from a fake one?

Paul Ekman is a psychologist recognized for his work in the field of emotions, especially when it comes to its expression. Thanks to him we know up to 18 different types of smile, the emotions associated with it and the facial muscles involved in each gesture.

Thus, something that Dr. Ekman points out to us is that most smiles (including fake ones) respond to one’s own will. However, The authentic Duchenne smile is the reflection of the emotions of the soulThis phrase, which may seem somewhat poetic to us, expresses an idea that he himself demonstrated in a study published in a social psychology journal. Namely, This gesture is perceived with the smile, but also with the look, because that is where happiness, well-being or the most authentic complicity is reflected.

Thus, one aspect that we must know about the Duchenne smile is that it is controlled by the motor cortex and the limbic system. What does this mean? Basically, it is a gesture that involves the most emotional part of the brain. All this makes us conclude that True smiles, genuine ones, come from that part of the brain. where positive emotions make the eyes contract, while giving them a special shine.

Therefore, when we are in front of someone who draws a smile for us, we do not stop at just the attractive shape of those lips. Let us also go in search of the eyes to see the brilliance generated by unfalsified positive emotions, let us intuit sincerity, the look that does not shy away and that embraces in depth…

To conclude, as Daniel Goleman points out in his book Social IntelligenceThere are too many sad people with fake smiles. If we work on our emotions and invest in well-being and happiness, we will show the world an authentic Duchenne smile..

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