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Smile

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For other uses, see Smile (disambiguation).
A laughing smile with teeth showing and mouth open.


In physiology, a smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles most notably near both ends of the mouth. The smile can be also around the eyes ("#Duchenne smile"; below). Among humans, it is customarily an expression of pleasure, happiness, or amusement, but can also be an involuntary expression of anxiety, in which case it can be known as a grimace. There is much evidence that smiling is a normal reaction to certain stimuli and occurs regardless of culture. Happiness is most often the cause of a smile. Among animals, the exposure of teeth, which may bear a resemblance to a smile, is often used as a threat or warning display - known as a snarl - or a sign of submission. In chimpanzees, it can be a sign of fear.

The Philosopher Democritus, by Agostino Carracci.

Historical background

Many biologists think the smile started as a sign of fear. Primalogist Signe Preuschoft traces the smile back over 30 million years of evolution to the "fear grin." Monkeys and apes used barely clenched teeth to portray to predators that they were harmless. Biologists believe the smile has evolved differently among species and especially among humans.

Biology is not the only academic discipline that interprets the smile. Those who study kinesics view the smile as an affect display. It can communicate feelings such as: love, happiness, pride, contempt, and embarrassment.

Duchenne smile

A Duchenne smile contracts the zygomatic muscles of the cheek and eye, forming crow's feet. The crow's feet indicate that the smile is genuine and that the smiler is truly happy. It was discovered by and is named after Guillaume Duchenne.

See also

Images

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smiling.






  • Girl with closed mouth smile.
    Girl with closed mouth smile.
  • Girl with open mouth smile.
    Girl with open mouth smile.
  • Politicians and leaders are often shown smiling as this is considered a sign of confidence.
    Politicians and leaders are often shown smiling as this is considered a sign of confidence.
  • Artwork on this ball is a common abstract representation of a smiling face.
    Artwork on this ball is a common abstract representation of a smiling face.

Further reading

  • Conniff, R. (2007). What's behind a smile? Smithsonian Magazine, 38,46-53.
  • Miller, Professor George A., et. al. Overview for "smile." Retrieved 12 December 2003 from this page.
  • Ottenheimer, H.J. (2006). The anthropology of language: An introduction to linguistic anthropology. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworh.

Duchenne smile

  • Ekman, P., Davidson, R.J., & Friesen, W.V. (1990). The Duchenne smile: Emotional expression and brain psysiology II. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 342-353. Cited in: Russell and Fernandez-Dols, eds. (1997).
  • Russell and Fernandez-Dols, eds. (1997). The Psychology of Facial Expression. Cambridge. ISBN 0521587964.
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