Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children
Published on: October 4, 2018
Differences between children and adults in the recognition of enjoyment smiles
Marco Del Giudice1, Livia Colle
1Department of Psychology, University and Polytechnic of Turin, Torino, Italy. delgiudice@psych.unito.it
Abstract:
The authors investigated the differences between 8-year-olds (n=80) and adults (n=80) in recognition of felt versus faked enjoyment smiles by using a newly developed picture set that is based on the Facial Action Coding System. The authors tested the effect of different facial action units (AUs) on judgments of smile authenticity. Multiple regression showed that children base their judgment on AU intensity of both mouth and eyes, with relatively little distinction between the Duchenne marker (AU6 or "cheek raiser") and a different voluntary muscle that has a similar effect on eye aperture (AU7 or "lid tightener"). Adults discriminate well between AU6 and AU7 and seem to use eye-mouth discrepancy as a major cue of authenticity. Bared-teeth smiles (involving AU25) are particularly salient to both groups. The authors propose and discuss an initial developmental model of the smile recognition process.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Emotional Expression
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Nonconscious Mimicry
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...

