Smiling occurs regardless of culture, and many scientists believe that smiling is an innate reaction.
Smiling is the only human facial expression that can be recognized at a distance of 300 feet. It also makes the brain produce endorphins, hormone-like substances that have analgesic properties and are responsible for positive moods.
The two common types of smiles as identified by the researches are the "Duchenne smile" and "Pan American smile".
The first one called so after its discoverer Guillaume Duchenne, French neurologist, is regarded a genuine smile, since it involves both the muscles around the mouth and near the eyes.
The other smile called after the flight attendants in television ads for now defunct airline is sometimes also referred to as "the professional smile". It involves only muscles around the mouth and has nothing to do with inner joy.
According to the study conducted by Marianne LaFrance, a psychology professor at Yale University and her colleagues, women, as a rule, smile more than men, however any differences in smiling disappear when men and women were in the same occupation or social role.
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