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Quizzes > Health & Medicine > Psychology & Mental Health

Real vs Fake Smile Quiz: Can You Spot a Genuine Grin?

Think you can ace the fake smile vs real smile test? Dive in!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Mike SmithUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art smiling faces side by side on sky blue background inviting users to test real versus fake smile detection skills

This Duchenne smile test helps you spot real vs fake smiles by watching small changes in the eyes and cheeks. You'll practice with quick photos and get instant feedback, so you sharpen your eye for everyday feelings. If you want more, try a quick smile check and then the facial expressions quiz .

A genuine Duchenne smile is most strongly marked by which muscle action pairing?
Mentalis with depressor anguli oris
Orbicularis oculi with zygomaticus major
Frontalis with corrugator supercilii
Masseter with buccinator
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In a real enjoyment smile, the outer corners of the eyes tend to crease noticeably.
False
True
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You see two photos: In one, the mouth smiles but the eyes remain wide and flat; in the other, the lower eyelids gently narrow the eyes. Which image is more likely genuine?
They are equally likely genuine
The one with wide, flat eyes and only mouth movement
The one with gently narrowed eyes from lower eyelid engagement
Neither can ever be genuine if teeth show
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Which feature more reliably signals a real smile compared to a fake smile?
Visible upper teeth
Slight crow's feet at the outer eye
Head tilt
Broad mouth width
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In a genuine smile, cheek raising often causes a slight bunching under the eyes.
True
False
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A fake or posed smile often has a faster on-and-off timing than a genuine one.
True
False
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A polite social smile typically shows strong engagement of the eye muscles around the orbit.
True
False
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When comparing symmetry, which is more typical of a posed or fake smile?
No mouth movement at all
Balanced lift of both mouth corners with eye crinkling
Only the chin lifts
Uneven lift with one corner higher than the other
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Which best describes the duration of a typical genuine smile compared to a posed smile?
No peak phase at all
Only offset is present
Smoother onset, natural peak, and gradual offset
Abrupt onset and abrupt offset
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A genuine smile is usually easier to hold steadily for a very long time than a posed smile.
False
True
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Which Action Unit (AU) combination is the classical marker of a Duchenne smile?
AU6 with AU12
AU9 with AU17
AU4 with AU15
AU1 with AU2
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Which of these is most diagnostic of a fake smile when viewed frame-by-frame?
Cheek raise preceding mouth movement
Eyes and mouth rise together
Mouth moves first, eyes follow late or not at all
Brief eye narrowing at apex
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Which timing pattern is more typical of genuine smiles during laughter?
Synchronized eye and mouth rise with a natural fade
Mouth rises, eyes lower, then reverse immediately
Eyes stay static, mouth toggles on and off
Offset is always instantaneous
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Which AU is specifically the cheek raiser that creates crow's feet in Duchenne smiles?
AU7
AU14
AU6
AU12
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A dimpler (AU14) is the primary indicator of a genuine enjoyment smile.
False
True
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Genuine smiles can subtly pull the skin at the temple area due to cheek elevation.
False
True
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Which sign suggests the smile is being used to mask anxiety?
Rigid mouth stretch with no eye change and elevated shoulders
Asymmetry with dimples and crow's feet
Gentle cheek rise with chuckle
Soft eye narrowing with relaxed shoulders
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Which observation in slow motion most strongly supports authenticity?
Eye and mouth activation begin nearly simultaneously
Mouth activation precedes all other movement by a large margin
No movement in the cheeks at any point
Brows lift sharply while lips remain flat
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A genuine smile typically reduces the visibility of the lower sclera (white of the eye) as cheeks rise.
True
False
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Genuine smiles frequently cause subtle upward movement in the malar (cheek) region.
False
True
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Muscle Cues -

    Learn to recognize the orbicularis oculi and zygomatic major muscles that distinguish a genuine Duchenne smile from a polite fake.

  2. Analyze Smile Authenticity -

    Develop skills to spot micro-expressions and subtle timing differences in real vs fake smile test images and videos.

  3. Apply the Duchenne Smile Test -

    Use the principles of the Duchenne smile test to assess smile authenticity in everyday conversations and media.

  4. Differentiate Emotional Signals -

    Understand how genuine grins reflect true happiness while fake smiles often signal social politeness or concealment.

  5. Enhance Emotional Intelligence -

    Improve your social perception by integrating nonverbal cue reading into personal and professional interactions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Duchenne vs. Non-Duchenne Smiles -

    Genuine smiles (Duchenne) engage both the zygomatic major (lip corner puller, AU12) and the orbicularis oculi (eye crinkler, AU6), while fake smiles often omit AU6. Remember the "D for Duo" mnemonic: two key muscles light up in a real grin. (Ekman & Friesen, 1982)

  2. FACS "Formula" for Real vs Fake -

    The Facial Action Coding System labels a genuine smile as AU6 + AU12; if you see only AU12, suspect a polite or posed expression. Try the quick "6-12 check": eyes first, mouth second. (Ekman, 1997; University of California, San Francisco research)

  3. Timing and Dynamics -

    Real smiles unfold smoothly with a 0.5 - 4 second duration and synchronized onset/offset, whereas fake smiles often have abrupt starts or excessively long holds. Practice timing by counting tenths of a second to spot unnatural pauses. (Frank et al., Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 1993)

  4. Symmetry and Muscle Patterns -

    Genuine smiles tend to be slightly asymmetrical due to natural muscle variation, while faked grins can look unnaturally uniform. Use the "split-face test": note subtle differences between left and right sides of the mouth. (Ekman, 2003; Harker & Keltner, 2001)

  5. Contextual Congruence -

    Always cross-check facial cues with situational context - does the smile match the person's eyes, posture, and conversation tone? Use the "SEE" method: Situation, Eyes, Emotions to validate the authenticity of any real vs fake smile. (Goleman, 1995; Mayer & Salovey, 1997)

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