Today I was working on different kinds of smiles and chanced to come upon an article which sounded a trifle sinister.
Apparently, there are 19 different types of smile, and only six convey happiness.
Can you believe that?
I tried to think of what happy smiles meant to me and came up with the following six. It intrigued me that I could not think of anymore.
What ‘Happy Smiles’ mean to me:
1. The Duchenne—a genuinely-happy smile like when we receive good news
2. The Reward smile of a baby at her doting Mama
3. The Photo smile to capture a memorable moment
4. The Secret smile while planning a surprise for a loved one
5. The Sense-of-relief smile that signals a feeling of relaxation following release from anxiety or distress
6. The Flirtatious smile reserved only for that ‘special’ person
Can you think of any other ‘Happy Smiles’? Or does the word ‘smile’ flood your mind with images of a far more complicated kind?
Please feel free share them with me–this enigmatic facial expression fascinates me.
Nandita Author 