Guillaume Duchenne (1806-75) experimented with electricity and determined that smiles resulting from...
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Transcript of Guillaume Duchenne (1806-75) experimented with electricity and determined that smiles resulting from...
Guillaume Duchenne (1806-75) experimented with electricity and
determined that smiles resulting from true happiness not only utilize the muscles of the
mouth but also those of the eyes. Such "genuine" smiles are called Duchenne smiles
in his honor.
We smile when we're happy but we also become happy when we smile; it works both ways. The emotional response to endorphins is happiness which The emotional response to endorphins is happiness which
creates a smile, but the smile also creates endorphins.creates a smile, but the smile also creates endorphins. This lifting of our mood is wonderful for our health and well-being. It boosts our immune system and can even improve our posture. Yes, I do mean that. You can experiment by
putting yourself into an awful slouch so you are really collapsed and slumped forwards then say "I am Happy!!" Does this ring with any truth? Now if you
bring yourself up to your full height (use the principles of the Alexander Technique if you know how, by freeing your neck and thinking your head upwards), look out into the world around you, relax your shoulders, stand
broad across your shoulders and now say "I am Sad!!" That does not ring with truth either, does it?
If you gain top marks in an examyou are elated and will feel 'UP', but if we
fail we may feel depressed. The actual word'Depressed' also applies to our posture and the
effect of our downward collapse depresses our insides.There are a great many people who do not smile much;
indeed none of us do compared to when we were children, laughing up to 600 times a day. But the smile, as long as it is
an honest one not only does so much for our health,but will also improve our social life; it is
contagious and what we give out,we receive in return.
None of us consciously think about the types of smile that people give, but our
subconscious certainly reads facial expressions more accurately than we can
possibly imagine, so we know how to respond to others. It's all body language.
It has become popular with some people to try and eliminate the crow's feet from
around the eyes by Botox or anti-wrinkle cream, in an attempt to 'stay young'. It is
unlikely that our subconscious will be fooled by this as we read so many small signals in body language, eyes, posture,
movement and spirit.
Attempting to reduce these little lines around the corners of our eyes also removes part of the
expression that makes us attractive, our display of happiness; by doing so we interfere with our
Duchenne smile! Far better I think, to allow all our natural expression to show; exude the qualities that
we like to see in others.Apparently long-onset smiles have been shown
through tests to be perceived as more attractive, moretrustworthy and less dominant. Head tilting also
increased attractiveness and trustworthiness but only if the head is tilted in the right direction. In this case, the right direction is the same way as eye orientation
or towards a partner.
Make friends with your Duchenne smile and
others will make friends with you too... :-)
Created by Meghan Hipple,
Elmira College