Body Language of Jaw Drop Smile
Cue: Jaw Drop Smile.
Synonym(s): Drop-Jaw Smile.
Description: When the jaw seems to unhinge and drop from the upper jaw as if surprised.
In One Sentence: The jaw drop smile indicates playful surprise.
How To Use it: The jaw drop smile should be used to create a playful atmosphere. This can help calm the mood when too much tension exists therefore has applications in many context. The smile will create positive feelings in other people.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m laughing, or sort of laughing because my jaw is dropping and I hope you will see me in a positive light and see me as playful.”
Variant: See Smiling, 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, Artificial Smile or Fake Smile, Nervous Smile, Honest Smile or Duchenne Smile, Contempt Facial Expression.
Cue In Action: George Clooney dropped his jaw and smiled at the camera evoking a playful response in the media reporter.
Meaning and/or Motivation: It is commonly seen in politicians and celebrities. It serves to imitate laughter. It is used to seem playful and unthreatening and is used to elicit a laugh and hence happiness response in others. It has roots in submission and appeasement.
Cue Cluster: The jaw drop smile can be accompanied by palms up “offering,” playful touching, actual laughing and smiling eyes.
Body Language Category: Childlike playfulness, Power play, Rapport or rapport building.
Resources:
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Children’s Control of Facial Actions Improve With Age To Create Accurate Emotional Expressions
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You Can Probably Fake An Honest Smile – The Deliberate Duchenne Smile
Guéguen, Nicolas. The Effect Of A Woman’s Smile On Men’s Courtship Behavior. Social Behavior and Personality. 2008. 36(9): 1233-1236.
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You Smile, You Lose – Smile Intensity Predicts Fighting Ability
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Fake It ‘Till You Make It – Cheaters Fake Smile Make Lies More Difficult to Detect
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Facial Expressions As Honest Signals – How Smiling and Contempt Predict Cooperation and Defection
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