Sunday, October 24, 2010

Sincerity Secret # 17: What's Beneath that Beautiful Smile?

This is Jacqueline Hennessey, the actor, journalist and singer. She is watching her twin sister Jill Hennessey, also an actor, just before an outdoor performance. The smile she's showing us is not a true, felt smile - although it is a very good social smile. Jacqueline is an actor, so she gets a lot of practice - but this is a great example of how, if you know what to look for - the truth always leaks out. In a sincere smile, the bottom teeth are not visible - and yet Ms. Hennessey's are. Notice how the corners of her mouth are stretched out to the side, rather than upwards. If you just look at her eyes, she'll fool you - again, she's an actress. Most people don't have nearly this good of a "social smile". She's "smiling" with her eyes very well, but something is worrying her emotional brain.

I want to call your attention to how Ms. Hennessey is scratching her neck. This is an example of a pacifying behavior which fits into the general category of an "adaptor" aka a "manipulator". The neck is one of the most sensitive areas of the body. When manipulators increase, it is a sure sign that indicates an increase in anxiety or discomfort. The Vagus nerves run through the neck on their way to the heart, lungs and other organs. Scratching or rubbing one's neck will stimulate the Vagus nerves, slow down the heart (among other things) and thus help to calm a person down. Jacqueline's smile is a nervous smile, albeit a very good one - she see's something which is making her anxious or uncomfortable. If you see people rubbing or scratching their neck, your antennae should immediately go on the alert and try and figure out the source of possible discomfort.

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