Why Do People Smile - Essay Example

Why Do People Smile Introduction According to Janet Lane, of all he things you wear, your impression is the most important. Smiling is one of the most popular among the facial expressions that manifests our feeling towards other people. Facial expression aside from smiling includes surprise, anger, fear, etc. Many scientists believe that one of the reasons why people use facial expressions such as smiling is simply to show to other people how they feel and what they feel. It is also believed that facial expressions are understood in the same manner all around the world as Max Eastman said “a Smile is the Universal Welcome.” The inner state of emotions is manifests through the facial expression. Someone is believed to be showing his calmness through smiling; having a friendly attitude towards others, and others could be distinguished through different kinds and types of smiles as one of the unknown authors quote “Everyone smiles in the same language.”. A smile is a facial expression that shows the upward contours at the ends of the mouth. There are times wherein the sparkle of the eyes expresses the smile and not the mouth. However, smile communicates a thousand words. Most of the time, smiles indicates happy signs such as joy, happiness, and love. However, there are kinds of a smile that show involuntary expression of anxiety known to be the grimace, or even serve as an expression of embarrassment in a shamefaced sort of way. Smile is rooted within our primate nature that depicts positive response to social relationships. It is considered to be a universal positive sign of social relationship. Smile is a positive tool to convey other people of different races and culture about their feelings and nature. History of Smiles Most of the time, happiness is always associated with smile, but to consider, there are still many types of smile that does not necessarily have that connotation like sneer, snarl, smirk etc. Different expressions in relation to smile were considered in tracing and studies with the history of smiling. Huge data have been gathered from art, history, and biology to unveil the nuances about the human smile after which some interesting facts were revealed. For example, there are beliefs that the supreme enlightenment is reflected In the holy smile of Buddha. On the other hand, open mouth smiling in the Victorians was obscene. In the behavioral and psychological aspects, it was explored how and when in infancy smiling considered to be an act of communication. In art history, the famous smile of Mona Lisa as well as the sculptured heads of Ming dynasty was studied in relation to smiling. Types and Reasons to Smile Thirty million years of human evolution produced different types of smiles that anybody can currently wear for all accessions and different situations. 1. Sweet Smile – This is the type of smile that can melt a heart, hard to resist like in just one look, you know you are done for it. “I have been hijacked several times over this smile.” This smile is manifested in all ages with pure intention of recapturing the true picture of a contented life. 2. I am in Love Smile – this type of smile is unmistakable from the rest of the smile. This smile exudes the energy of having a pure love and bliss. This type of smile does not necessarily need to be romantic smile and can also be applicable to one’s favorite pets. This is usually manifested to young adults and adults or in the mature people. 3. Most Beautiful Smile – This type of smile is the one considered to be the breathtaking smile. This is the smile that could skip a person’s heartbeat. Once encountering this type of smile, one can be mesmerize and would forget the world for a while. This is usually seen to young adults as a part of their growing up in their transformation to the adulthood. 4. Happy Smile- In this type of smile, one can see the reflection of a happy and a joyful heart. This is the smile that radiates pure happiness and most often manifested in children. 5. Thoughtful Smile – This type of smile shows that the eyes look glazed. In this smile there is no eye to eye contact involved and instead, the person is looking about sometime far away, reminiscing the memory of the past and there is also a manifestation of longing for someone that is close to the heart. In this smile, it seems that the person is remembering the joy in the past and how it felt like. It is like living the moment again and breaking that moment through the smile. This is usually seen to the adult and the old people who had good memories in the past that is being shared to the young people that is close to the person. 6. I know it all Smile – This type of smile refers to the memories of old people who had larger knowledge about life. This smile refers to the cultivation of experiences as one people is getting older, the mind is filled with wonderful memories and stories from the past. This is also the smile that speaks volumes of wisdom that was gained in long life. 7. The Sparkling In The Eyes Smile – This is the type of smile that manifests in the eyes. The eyes say it all, sparkling with excitement and sheer joy over an important discovery. This is usually seen in children who start discovering, exploring, and experimenting things around them. 8. I am the Boss Smile – This type of smile shows an expression that the person or the child has something in mind that cannot be over rule. This is like there is an existence of one’s own individual world in the mind of the person that is unbeaten. This is usually manifested in children. 9. Lucky Smile – This is the type of smile that says I’m lucky again. This is seen in all ages that had the feelings of being lucky in a certain things. 10. Amused Smile – this is the type of smile that can be seen to the amused people. This is also seen in all ages who felt the amusement in certain things. 11. Naughty or Up-to-No-Good Smile – This is the type of smile that can be seen to people or children who were embarrassed for being caught in doing naughty things. Most often seen to children while in exploration of the thing around them. 12. Satisfied Smile – this type of Smile can be seen to those people who show satisfaction upon accomplishing something. The smiles could refer to the satisfaction in the experience of having a good meal, connecting to friends, or winning a certain game. This smile is manifested from children to the adult and aging people. 13. Contented Smile – This type of smile shows contentment in life. This is usually seen to the aging people who had the contentment in life by making their family successful, there is a feeling of serenity, and peacefulness in spite of an old age. The smile shows the joy that was derived from the external factor such as success in business or success of children in life. 14. Confident Smile – This is the type of smile that conveys the feeling of confidence. Usually seen to young people and adult being confident with the status in life. 15. Proud Smile – This is the smiles that speak of pride. Usually seen to young people and adult after doing the job or the task well. 16. Sexy Smile – this type of smile needs precise positioning. Usually the pose is projected 47-degree angle to the recipient to be able to be seen in the best side. The person also needs to tilt the head slightly down wards but with the eyes glancing up and flutter the eyelashes with deliberate intent. This is usually seen to couples or partners as if the partner has to save the other one. 17. Cheer Up Smile – This smile is manifested to those people who have the uplifted spirits. This smile shows that the person’s enthusiasm to something else is highly achieved. Mostly seen to young and adult people. Conclusion Knowing that smiling is such a great facial expression one can give and receive, it is relevant to conclude that it is important to people’s everyday lives. There is no monetary involvement in smiling but it gives a lot more than the money can do. Smiles enrich those who receive without making the giver to be poorer. It is important to all of us to give a smile at a moment for it will linger in the memory and could even last. Smiling helps us radiate peace, express our situation and be understood by others. Smile is a very important gift given to us by God to share with as an expression of love, peace, respect to others, and recognizing other people’s dignity as a human being and the highest creation by God. “A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles” By William Hazlitt. Reference Evelyn. (2008). 17 Types of Smile to Wear: in All Occasions. Retrieved August 4, 2011 from http://www.abundancetapestry.com/17-types-of-smiles-to-wear-a-guide-for-all-occasions/ Read More