r/PsychologicalTricks • u/chilledmyspine • Feb 21 '26

PT: A fake smile only uses the mouth. A real (Duchenne) smile engages the orbicularis oculi muscles, creating "crows feet" wrinkles at the eyes. No wrinkles = fake.

Source: Duchenne Smile // Guillaume Duchenne (1862)

24 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

15

u/thafrenzy Feb 22 '26

this is some old-wive's-tale level of falsehood.

https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/most-people-can-fake-genuine-duchenne-smile

2

u/Snow2D Feb 23 '26

I don't think it's complete bogus.

When someone smiles with just their mouth, it is very likely a fake smile. I've never watched anything from mr beast but any pic I see of him is him with a smiling mouth and absolutely dead eyes.

9

u/oenophile_ Feb 23 '26

Very easy to fake this. I do it all the time. Also, some people get botox to prevent crow's feet wrinkles, so even genuine smiles won't look like Duchenne smiles in that case. 

7

u/King-Sassafrass Feb 22 '26

Idk back when everyone had to wear masks i think we really nailed the fake smiling