I Can Tell if You’re Truly Smiling

Genuine reactions are revealed beyond the mask

Credit: user18526052 — licensed via Freepik

As more US businesses and municipalities announce mask requirements, the ongoing question continues:

Can they tell I’m smiling?

Let’s find out.

Smiling is essential

Smiling is an expression of emotion. We use this action to convey happiness as much as we do to comfort and reassure others. Smiles can express empathy and sympathy, calm anxiety, excitement, and humor. We also use them to ease our own pain.

When our smiling muscles contract, they stimulate the brain’s reward system, releasing endorphins, which make us feel good.

Without smiles, the ability to deal with the coronavirus pandemic would be nearly non-existent.

Different types of smiles

There are five types of smiles. Only one is recognizable from behind a face covering.

1. The fake smile is more of a smirk. We might think we’re being helpful, but don’t be surprised if someone takes immediate offense. This is how many smile for the camera, only to hate the photo because our facial expression is neither sincere nor flattering.
2. An uncomfortable smile is…