Humans use specific fake smile expressions to communicate negative affect politely

the verdict

SUPPORTED

the evidence backs this

Recorded sources

3 sources for · 0 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

Evidence from functional analyses of facial expressions demonstrates that humans employ distinct types of smiles, such as affiliative or polite smiles, to navigate social interactions and communicate negative or non-threatening affect politely.

The analysis

The claim is specific and empirical, addressing whether humans use specific fake/polite smile expressions to communicate negative affect politely. Papers [0], [1], and [2] provide strong support for functional smile categories (such as affiliative and polite smiles) used by individuals to manage social friction, avoid rejection, and signal non-threat during negative emotional states. There are no refuting papers.

Evidence for · 3

Functional Smiles: Tools for Love, Sympathy, and War.

Recorded source metadata

Rychlowska M, Jack RE, Garrod OGB, Schyns PG, Martin JD, Niedenthal PM. Functional Smiles: Tools for Love, Sympathy, and War.. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797617706082

Paper [0] establishes that smiles are functionally diverse, identifying distinct expressions such as affiliative smiles that serve social functions like peaceful interaction.

Source citation format

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More for · 2

Effects of Social Anxiety on Emotional Mimicry and Contagion: Feeling Negative, but Smiling Politely.

Recorded source metadata

Dijk C, Fischer AH, Morina N, van Eeuwijk C, van Kleef GA. Effects of Social Anxiety on Emotional Mimicry and Contagion: Feeling Negative, but Smiling Politely.. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-017-0266-z

Paper [1] demonstrates that individuals experiencing negative emotions or social anxiety use polite smiles to mask or suppress negative affect and avoid conflict.

Source citation format

Evidence for Distinct Facial Signals of Reward, Affiliation, and Dominance from Both Perception and Production Tasks.

Recorded source metadata

Martin JD, Wood A, Cox WTL, Sievert S, Nowak R, Gilboa-Schechtman E, Zhao F, Witkower Z, Langbehn AT, Niedenthal PM. Evidence for Distinct Facial Signals of Reward, Affiliation, and Dominance from Both Perception and Production Tasks.. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42761-020-00024-8

Paper [2] confirms that smiles like affiliation smiles signal non-threat and promote harmonious interactions, operating as distinct social signals.

Source citation format

The paper trail · every fact has a biography

first checked01 Aug 2026

judged → SUPPORTED · 8601 Aug 2026

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