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👄
Mouthhigh reliabilityobvious

Genuine Smile (Duchenne)

A true smile involving both the mouth and eyes, with crow's feet appearing.

HappinessRapportComfortTrust

Visual Description

Lip corners raise, cheeks push up, crow's feet wrinkles appear around eyes, eyes "sparkle."

Duration: sustainedVisibility: obvious

How to Observe

  • Look for crow's feet around eyes
  • Note how smile fades - gradual is genuine
  • Symmetry indicates authenticity

Context Matters

  • •Involves orbicularis oculi (eye muscle)
  • •Difficult to fake convincingly
  • •Fades gradually, not abruptly
  • •Often contagious - triggers smiles in others

Common Misinterpretations

  • âš Social smiles can look similar briefly
  • âš Some people naturally have less eye involvement
  • âš Joy and relief can look similar

Signal Clusters

Genuine Happiness Cluster

Full expression of positive emotion

Genuine Smile (Duchenne)Open PostureEyebrow Flash

Significance: Authentic positive emotional state

Quick Info

Primary Signal
Happiness
Body Region
👄Mouth
Reliability
high
Duration

sustained

Visibility

obvious

Related Cues

Sustained Eye Contact
Pupil Dilation

Opposite Signals

Social/Polite Smile
Lip Tightening/Compression

Associated Emotions

Joy