Smile, you're being analyzed.
 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFr...35-523,00.html

I thought this was a pretty nifty article. Ganked form Neil Gaiman's blog, because he normally posts interesting articles.

I'm pretty sure my smile varies between the open mouthed and crow-eyed sincerity of the "British smile" and the upper-teeth exposed only because I'm self-conscious of how I look while smiliing "American smile".

Cool Article - I too have been thinking of my very American smile. I realize from photos I seldom show teeth, but when I do I look far more happier - so I've been conscious to smile more broadly for photographs these days. However when I do, I feel like maybe I'm just faking it a bit too much.

In my day to day life, I've been trying to smile a bit more, The interesting effect I've noticed while walking the halls of the mega-corporation I work for, is that I get a lot of smile backs - which is smile inducing in itself. I haven't tried analysing the smiles yet though - perhaps that next.

Weird. I show a full swath of upper teeth when I smile, but when I'm genuinely happy I also do the slightly squinty eye crinkle.

I've always found the crow's feet squinty thing to be endearing.

Unfortunately, I seem to have a tendency to smirk in photos. It's very unattractive.

You look fantastic in that picture, and I love, love your toothy, happy, pretty grin. It's infectious. When I'm around you, I just want to smile more. Plus, you have one of the best laughs I've ever heard. Huzzah!

It does seem like a very American thing to do, engaging people with a grin. I've certainly done so to make others and myself more comfortable in a situation. Smiles as comfort, not just smiles to show you're happy. And it's such a cultural thing, which is why I loved the article. Be interested to read more about cultures where the "smile" is seen as something aggressive.

Staring is also an interesting phenom. My understanding is that in some European countries staring is the norm. It's perfectly okay to stare and be stared at. Wanted, even. To show approval or acknowledgement. To be noticed and to notice in return. The French "flaneury", as an example. But it's considered almost hostile here. You're told not to stare at strangers on the subway, or you might engage the wrong type of person, or offend someone. I just find that so interesting. I stare at people ALL the time.

And when caught, a smile can sometimes be used to make the person comfortable. Sometimes not.

But if you keep on staring, you can often times make people very, very uncomfortable. A mini power struggle is in effect, and if you can make a person turn away, it's almost as if you have something over them. It's weird.

The nod is also an interesting diffuser. If you stare and stare and the person begins to give you a "WTF?" look, just nod towards them. As acknowledgement. They usually respond with a kind of, "Oh. Huh." Look.

Ah, human behavior. How I love thee and shake my head at thee and am dazzled and befuddled by thee.

Yes, I've done that too. The photo smirk. I look like a pissed off 50's housewife.

I try to look confused in pictures.

Or am screaming, like that shot.

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I just finished listening to an old BBC interview from the opening of EuroDisney. The Brit interviewer was trying to get the French head of casting (his name eludes me) to admit that Disney trains their cast members to smile in a specific way. The Disney guy politely responded that no, they didn't tell them how to smile, but that they were all encouraged to smile (that's the Disney Way). The interviewer wouldn't let it go, and asked the question a couple of times.

What is it with Brits and smiles? Maybe it's their infamous lack of attention to dental hygiene (dental insurance plans are still atypical over there).