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The Ultimate Body Language Book

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our faces a break. We know instinctively that we can’t get away with a sour face in public because<br />

others will think poorly of us and won’t want to be around us. <strong>The</strong> freedom to express moods naturally<br />

in our own homes can be a blessing, but can also be a drag. Sometimes taking the extra effort can be<br />

rewarded so it’s worth a try, especially if the mood has been sour perpetually. So the advice follows that<br />

when people around you are in a bad mood, even at home, initiate the smile, hold it persistently and see<br />

what happens!<br />

Chapter 6 - Smiles and Laughter<br />

<strong>The</strong> Most Common Types Of Smiles<br />

<strong>The</strong> following is a comprehensive list, with accompanying description, outlining the various smiles you<br />

might encounter.<br />

___________________________________________________________________________________<br />

___________<br />

<strong>The</strong> tight lipped smile with low intensity.<br />

ONE. <strong>The</strong> tight lipped smile with low intensity. This smile happens as the lips are stretched across<br />

the face and no teeth are showing. <strong>The</strong> tight lipped smile can vary with intensity as well, and it is<br />

directly related to the amount the lips are raise in the corners of the mouth. <strong>The</strong> low intensity smile has<br />

very little upward curl in the corner of the mouth and indicates a hidden attitude or thought,<br />

uncertainty, hesitation or lack of confidence. In this smile the lips are stretched toward the ears with no<br />

curl using muscles called the risorius. <strong>The</strong> risorius muscles are unable to raise the corner of the lips.<br />

Small babies have been shown to use this smile for all others except their mothers whom they reserve<br />

the use of the true smile. This smile is used to placate others or to pose for photographs when we aren’t<br />

in the mood. Strangers passing on the street might also use this shallow smile as a form of greeting or<br />

acknowledgement. <strong>The</strong> smile is a feigned or dishonest smile so that others don’t catch on that we<br />

actually don’t like them. It might also appear out of nervousness or stressed, so it can appear when<br />

meeting new people. For this reason we can call the tight lipped smile the “polite smile.” When the<br />

tight lipped smile with low intensity happens in conversation in can serve to negate the previous<br />

statement. For example, a man might say about his boss “He’s a great boss, I’d switch companies and<br />

follow him anywhere if he left.” and this might be followed by a tight lipped smile serving to negate<br />

the comment.<br />

___________________________________________________________________________________<br />

___________<br />

TWO. Tight lipped smile with high intensity. This is a variation on the smile above, yet the corners<br />

of the lips rise even further with some teeth showing. <strong>The</strong> lips are slightly separated, the corners of the<br />

mouth are upturned, gaze is steady and warm and the posture is relaxed. We find this smile appearing

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