Buzz
“I avoid smiling whenever possible,” Dwight Schrute, Dunder Mifflin’s Assistant (to the) Regional Manager, famously states in The Office. “Baring teeth is a sign of submission in primates. When someone smiles at me, all I perceive is a chimp pleading for mercy.”
However, extensive research suggests a different perspective—or at least indicates that smiles can communicate a variety of messages. A 2017 study categorized human smiles into three primary types, none of which include submission. Dominance, on the other hand, is a key category. So, how does one effectively convey dominance through a smile? Here’s the breakdown.
What is the purpose of a human smile?
The reasons behind human smiles have been a focal point of behavioral studies for years, and rightly so. While smiles are commonly linked to joy or pleasure, their significance extends far beyond. This facial expression can convey a multitude of emotions, such as awkwardness, unease, and courtesy.
Indeed, the human smile is remarkably adaptable, leading researchers to classify its uses into three main types: Reward smiles, affiliation smiles, and dominance smiles. Reward smiles serve as an unmistakable signal of happiness, satisfaction, or approval toward a specific action or event. Affiliation smiles, while similar, are more general and not tied to a particular stimulus. Dominance smiles, on the other hand, are employed to assert control or authority, projecting an image of power.
Dwight’s perspective isn’t entirely off-base, as noted by Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Knox College with extensive expertise in facial expressions. “Among primates, displaying teeth, particularly when clenched, is almost universally a gesture of submission,” he explained to Scientific American in 1999. “The human smile likely evolved from this behavior.”
Mastering the dominant smile
For those curious about the appearance of a dominant smile, Adrienne Wood, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Virginia and a researcher on smiling, provided a detailed explanation in a recent New York Times interview.
A dominant smile is characterized by its asymmetry, often appearing crooked. “A subtle sneer is essential,” she explained to the Times. To achieve this, pull one corner of your mouth toward your nearest ear while raising your upper lip slightly.
However, that’s not all. “For authenticity, engage your entire body,” Wood emphasized. This involves slightly wrinkling your nose, leaning backward, and tilting your chin upward to create the impression of looking down at the other person. Whether or not to show your teeth is entirely up to you.
