Can you tell a fake smile from a real one?

1. 64

   rutleyposted 12 years ago

   Can you tell a fake smile from a real one?
   
   Some of those grins just don't have any life behind them and are completely forced!

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2. 63

   snapbackbettyposted 12 years ago

   I usually can tell if it's a fake smile with people that I know and are close with. To me some strangers are really easy to pick up on and others you just can't tell.

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3. 62

   cat on a soapboxposted 12 years ago

   It's not always a reliable sign; however a person's eyes usually light up when a smile is genuine. and the face is relaxed. Shy or tentative smiles that are partly held back are one exception though genuine.

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4. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Normally, yes. I entirely agree with you! If someone is really trying to make you buy it or mean it, the smile will show in their eyes. If it's forced or someone is really bad at faking, you can tell. But I love watching for signs that other's aren't telling the truth. So entertaining!

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5. 0

   il Scetticoposted 12 years ago

   In a forced smile, the muscles of the face tend to pull the lips mainly sidewise.  A real smile pulls them sidewise AND upward, which also crinkles the eyes slightly. 
   
   Also, look at the different hemispheres of the brain.  The creative side ("lying" side) controls the left side of the body, and the rational/logical ("honest") side controls the right side of the body.  If it's a false smile (created), then it tends to be more pronounced on the left side of their body (your right, their left), making it a slightly crooked smile.
   
   Don't just look at their mouth and eyes - what is the rest of their body saying?  If they are leaning away with their feet planted firmly on the floor, and their arms folded as they smile in the way I just described, it's probably fake.

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6. 81

   dghbrhposted 12 years ago

   I think yes I can well tell if the person in front of me yes smiling fake or real if i get time to notice it properly But in a hectic time it is not possible to know. For me a real smile reaches the eyes of the person and gives a happy vibration forward. Thank you

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7. 69

   Anna Havenposted 12 years ago

   Yes, I think so, like everyone has been saying it is all in the eyes. They betray what the person is really thinking.

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8. 0

   GoldenThreadPressposted 12 years ago

   I can tell a fake smile from a real one. In fact, years ago a great Russian friend said, "Behind every smile are teeth." Sometimes a smile can be genuine and other times it can be like what I call a "canine smile." I wouldn't trust these. Great topic! Best Regards--Deb

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9. 83

   shampa sadhyaposted 12 years ago

   I would say 'yes'. The reason is I am usually good at reading people's eyes and we all know that eyes never speak lie. Thus, fake smile will never match one's eyes. Fake smile will be easily caught.

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10. 71

    catgypsyposted 12 years ago

    I have to agree with every one else...it's all in the eyes!

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11. 87

    Tonipetposted 12 years ago

    I think yes. I don't know but there's something in the face of a fake smile that says it's fake. Me too agree that it's in the glitter of the eyes. Most probably because the sense that those grins, like you said, don't have any life behind them, is because they're not from the heart. A Valentine smile to you and everyone:

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12. 60

    Hui (蕙)posted 12 years ago

    Supposed to be able to, based on the real situations that we are. But I am wondering if we can tell a fake smile in a virtual space, like on facebook talking with those face symbols without any real body languages!

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