In this hilarious skit on Saturday Night Live, the beautiful Anne Hathaway gives her impersonation of the stunning Katie Holmes. Ms. Holmes is well known for her asymmetrical (social) "smile". This false-smile is, for her, normal - and makes interpretation of other nonverbals more challenging. With the exceptions of some suppressed smiles and the initial stages of some true smiles, the body language of a sincere smile (Duchenne) is always symmetrical. If a "smile" remains asymmetrical and it is not suppressed - it is either feigned or not a smile at all but contempt - which is often falsely interpreted as a coy or even "cute" smile. If you see such a false and dangerous "social smile" - whether in dating or in the business world - watch your back.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce - What Body Language Metric Predicted This?
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1921: Who was More Dominant - Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes?
Nonverbal Communication - Flirting and Romance Secret # 39: Affectionate vs. Non-Affectionate Hug
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2124: This Body Language-Facial Display Should always make you think "Insincere"
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2140: Joran van der Sloot's going to be a father - Body Language Signs of Chronic Insincerity
The following images are, of course, the real Katie Holmes shown in different examples of sincere and pseudo-smiles - as well as some with other emotional components:
Sincere Smile,
Mildly Suppressed
Sincere Smile,
Moderately Suppressed
Social Smile (Feigned)
Katie's Classic Asymmetric
Social Smile (Feigned) with
Mild Contempt Component
Social Smile (Feigned) with
Mild Fear Component
Social Smile (Feigned) with
Mild-Moderate Disgust Component
Social Smile (Feigned) with Moderate Contempt Component
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