Julie asked...
Asked by Julie - 08/09/09 at 11:09 pmHow do you interpret a smile? And when does it become a smirk?
(kyoo-fahy-ah)
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September 9th, 2009 at 9:50 am
You might argue that a smirk is more likely to become a smile than a smile becoming a smirk, as a smirk eludes to mischievous intent that may result in a smile.
Perhaps a smile and a smirk are one in the same thing, they both portray a degree of amusement, and we probably instinctively interpret them differently anyway.
The interpretation of a smile will be the result of a number of factors such as the environment we are in, the context of a given situation, and the person smiling, instinct and observation bring these factors together to give us an interpretation. Of course some people are more observant than others or have a more natural affinity for reading body language.
September 19th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Smiles can be interpreted in many ways. The first thing to consider is the context in which the person is in when they smile. To understand the difference between just a smile and a smirk, you need to understand the various contexts and motivations for smiling.
A smirk can be an offensively self-satisfied amusement in motivation and physically this usually involves only turning the corners or one corner of the mouth. The context can be anything from something amusing just happened for that person, to that person is smirking because they want somebody to notice them smiling and it is an offensive gesture.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:58 am
A smile is in the eye of the beholder. Not joking!