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UNDERSTANDING THE MOUTH
The mouth is associated with very many body language signals, which is not surprising given its functions - obviously speech, but also those connected with infant feeding.
The mouth can be touched or obscured by a person's own hands or fingers, expressive part of the body too, performing a central role in facial expressions.Unlike the nose and ears, which are generally only brought into body language action by the hands or fingers, the mouth acts quite independently, another reason for it deserving separate detailed consideration. Smiling is a big part of facial body language. As a general rule real smiles are symmetrical and produce creases around the eyes and mouth, whereas fake smiles, for whatever reason, tend to be mouth-only gestures.
When evaluating body language, pay attention to the following mouth and lip signals:
The mouth is associated with very many body language signals, which is not surprising given its functions - obviously speech, but also those connected with infant feeding.
The mouth can be touched or obscured by a person's own hands or fingers, expressive part of the body too, performing a central role in facial expressions.Unlike the nose and ears, which are generally only brought into body language action by the hands or fingers, the mouth acts quite independently, another reason for it deserving separate detailed consideration. Smiling is a big part of facial body language. As a general rule real smiles are symmetrical and produce creases around the eyes and mouth, whereas fake smiles, for whatever reason, tend to be mouth-only gestures.
When evaluating body language, pay attention to the following mouth and lip signals:
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Pursed lips- Pursed lips might be an indicator of distaste, disapproval, or distrust.
Lip biting- People sometimes bite their lips when they are worried, anxious, or stressed.
Covering the mouth- When people want to hide an emotional reaction, they might cover their mouths in order to avoid displaying a smile or smirk.
Turned up or down-Slight changes in the mouth can also be subtle indicators of what a person is feeling. When the mouth is slightly turned up it might mean that the person is feeling happy or optimistic. On the other hand, a slightly down turned mouth can be an indicator of sadness, disapproval, or even an outright grimace.
Spot the fake smile here. What score did you get? I got 17.
The author of this site does not claim to be a professional in body language. Information provided in this site came from various sources and personal observations. Sources and additional reading material are included.