Smile, you're being analyzed.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

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 analyzing the smiles yet though - perhaps that next.

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.