The Face: The Power of the Smile, the Gaze and Microexpressions

Types of smiles: genuine, forced, flirtatious and their meanings.

The smile is one of the most powerful nonverbal connection tools, but not all smiles are the same.

Each variation conveys a different message.

The genuine smile is a sincere expression of joy that involves the entire face and is usually accompanied by a twinkle in the eye.

In contrast, the forced or fake smile is often used to mask true feelings; it is a social construct that lacks real emotion.

On the other hand, the flirtatious smile is a deliberate sign of interest or attraction, characterized by being broad and combined with direct and sustained eye contact.

Being able to distinguish these nuances allows us to interpret more accurately the true intentions of our interlocutor.

How to identify a fake smile through the eyes

The most reliable indicator to differentiate a genuine smile from a fake one is not in the mouth, but in the eyes.

A genuine smile, often called a "Duchenne smile," is an involuntary act that involves not only the zygomatic muscles (which lift the corners of the lips), but also the orbicularis oculi muscles surrounding the eyes.

This contraction creates small wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes, commonly known as "crow's feet".

A false smile, being a voluntary act, generally only activates the muscles of the mouth.

The absence of this movement in the eye area is the clearest sign that the smile is not a reflection of real emotion.

The importance of eye contact in building trust and credibility

Eye contact is a fundamental pillar of non-verbal communication, essential to generate trust, sincerity and credibility.

Maintaining a visual connection with our interlocutor for approximately 70-80% of the conversation sends a clear message: "I am present, I am committed and I value what you say".

It is crucial that this contact is not perceived as an aggressive or intimidating look, but as a sign of attention and openness.

Avoiding the gaze, on the other hand, is often interpreted as disinterest, insecurity or even dishonesty, which weakens the connection and credibility of the message.

How the direction of the gaze can reveal mental processes

Beyond maintaining contact, the subtle movements of a person's eyes, known as eye-access, can offer clues to their inner mental processes.

Although not an exact science for detecting lies, these patterns can indicate whether a person is remembering, creating or feeling.

For example, averting the gaze upward is often associated with visualization, either recalling images from the past or constructing new images.

Looking sideways may be related to hearing sounds (remembered or constructed).

And finally, directing the gaze downward is often a sign of reflection, an internal dialogue or a connection to feelings.

Observing these movements can give us an additional layer of information about how our interlocutor is processing information.

Summary

The genuine, or "Duchenne," smile is a sincere expression that involves the entire face, not just the mouth. The most reliable indicator is the eyes, as a genuine smile contracts the orbicularis oculi muscles, creating "crow's feet".

Eye contact is essential to build trust and credibility. Maintaining eye contact for 70-80% of the conversation sends a message of commitment and attention. Avoiding the gaze is often interpreted as disinterest, insecurity or dishonesty.

Subtle eye movements, or eye-accesses, can offer clues to internal mental processes. Diverting the gaze upward is associated with visualization, sideways with hearing, and downward with inner reflection.