Vanessa Van Edwards breaks down the 12 to 19 different types of smiles scientists have identified, from genuine ones that reach your eyes to fake polite ones. Authentic smiles happen involuntarily and change your vocal tone. Pick smiles that actually fit the moment instead of forcing them.
Research has found there are many different types of smiles. Usually we find all of them acceptable if they're used correctly. Authentic full smiling, the happiness microexpression— remember, this is not a facial expression, it's a microexpression— is a reaction, right? So this happens the moment you feel happiness and it reaches all the way up into your eyes. True happiness is a reaction. You cannot control it. A facial expression like an acknowledgement smile is not a reaction. You're purposely doing it on your face. So I might say, oh, thank you so much for that question. I smile. Now it's not a happiness expression that I'm like thrilled and happy. It's not a joke. It's not reaching all the way to the top of my face. But you recognize that I am acknowledging you with that smile. So there are acknowledgement smiles. There are pity smiles. There are authentic smiles. There are sarcastic smiles. There are many, many different kinds of smiles. I've seen in the research anywhere from like 12 to 19. There's lots of different ones. We even hear them with our voice. Type of smile changes our voice. Yes, in fact, I would rather you use the smile that is authentic to the situation than force anything.
