Body Language of The Artificial Smile or Fake Smile
Cue: Artificial Smile
Synonym(s): Pretend Smile, Fake Smile, Phony Smile, False Smile.
Description: A feigned smile where the orbicularis oculi muscles surrounding the eyes play no part and the lips are only stretched across the face with the help of the zygomatic muscles surrounding the mouth. The tell-tale cue is the fake smile is the lack of “crows feet.” The teeth are often bared, with a tense jaw and the lips show asymmetry.
In One Sentence: A fake smile, where the eyes play no part, shows others that one is not sincere in their happiness.
How To Use it: Use the fake smile to appease others whilst remaining polite. This is the smile used to fake your way through a photograph. The fake smile is often naturally occurring and you may wish to do it to show that you are not really on board with another person or their ideas. A fake smile is a great way to show people that you can be cooperative, but also apathetic to the situation at hand.
Context: General
Verbal Translation: “I acknowledge you are there, but I’m not exactly brimming with joy to see you.” I’m putting on a fake smile just to appease other people so they leave me alone.”
Variant: See Fear Smile, Friendly Smile, Frown (the) or Downturned Smile, Honest Smile or Duchenne Smile, Jaw Drop Smile, Nervous Smile, Polite Smile (the), Uneven Smile Or Lopsided Smile, Upper Lip Smile.
Cue In Action: a) A group of friends flash an artificial smile while posing for a photograph. b) When two strangers pass on the sidewalk, they each perform a fake smile to acknowledge each other. c) While being caught in a lie, the lips of the liar are stretched across his face to cover up his stress. d) It was obvious her statement wasn’t to be believed because it was followed by a fake smile.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Fake smiles are appeasement gestures done to show other people that we’re not threat and mean no harm, but that we aren’t experiencing real joy or happiness. Thus, the fake smile is not genuine.
Artificial smiles can also indicate that a person isn’t telling the truth. For example, the statement “He’s a great boss, I’d switch companies and follow him anywhere if he left” that is followed by a fake smile indicates that the entire statement is false.
Cue Cluster: The fake smile is a sand-alone cue and need no supporting cues to have meaning. Fake smiles can be accompanied by averted eyes, arm crossing, arms in pockets and various other closed body language.
Body Language Category: Appease, Nonthreatening body language, Stressful body language.
Resources:
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