Often people laugh even if they don't like it. It reduces the awkwardness of social situations and helps the person appear friendlier. These different smiles can appear at a variety of events, from job interviews to public events. People may smile throughout the event, but they don't even come close to being happy. But while it is true that smiling brings people much closer, at the same time, it is important to understand the difference between a real smile and a fake smile.

A real smile: When a genuine smile appears, as recognized by the French doctor Guillaume Duchenne, the face mainly has two muscles that curve upwards. These include the cheekbones, which are strongly controlled by the person's will. It's a kind of 'smile for the camera'. It can be done without problems. At this time, the eye muscles contract, forming wrinkles on the outer edge of the eye, making the smile more realistic. We all use fake or forced smiles several times a day for various and good reasons. The exact scientific term for a fake smile and a real smile is Duchenne or non-Duchenne. Hitlin says, “A Duchenne smile is a smile that touches the eye and turns into crow's feet. It's a smile that most of us perceive as the most genuine expression of happiness.'

Let's look at what it's used for and some of the reasons why it can be problematic.

Reason 1: Etiquette

We often use fake smiles to look good. Our intentions are good. We want others to see us as kind and compassionate. That makes us smile. It just says 'I'm here to have fun'. That's why Healthline thinks it's better to call these types of smiles 'polite' than 'fake.'

Such a hard, forced smile is sometimes called a 'smiling smile.' In the Strategy + Business article, the author quoted Tessa West, a psychologist at New York University and a senior fellow at the NeuroLeadership Institute. When people want to speak or act in a truly open and critical way, they say, there is a subtle smile when they try to cling to what the West calls 'beauty culture.' So they pay. He smiles too much and talks so positively.”

Reason 2: Combating social stigma

Another reason we use fake smiles is that we don't want to appear biased. In a study conducted by University of California professors Wendy Mendez and Katrina Koslov, we found that when we interact with socially stigmatized people, we often alter our smiles and create fake smiles. They found that participants laughed more when they interacted with people of other races to show that they were not racist. Participants used more fake smiles on those with prominent facial blemishes. In both cases, the communicator was intentionally trying to say, 'We're fine, we're fine.'

So are fake smiles good or bad?

There is nothing wrong with trying to promote positive interactions or equality. Mendez and Koslov wonder if overcorrecting fake smiles can be more beneficial or even more harmful for us. They conclude that fake smiles are good if they work.

But sometimes not. Why not? Because when we use fake smiles, others know the game we are playing. You may remember the famous line spoken by Queen Gertrude in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Over-repairing goes into unrealistic realms. And everyone knows. Our goal is to ensure that our relationship is always honest and sincere. We want the drivers we help and train to adopt the same goals. But to do that, we all have to recognize our tendency to overcorrect. If you use a fake (or non-Duchenian or sly) smile, can you tell me why? Then try not to laugh so hard that you look fake. Keeping a smile on your face can fix it.