The Olympic Games just ended were the scene of numerous spontaneous emotions of the athletes who competed in the 50 disciplines of the XXXII Olympic edition. This multi-ethnic scenario once again gives us the opportunity to demonstrate the universality of emotions.
Dott. Francesco Galvano
In case of victory (especially when taking the top step of the podium) we can notice the sincere smile known as the Duchenne smile. This smile mainly involves the zygomatic muscle (that of the smile to be clear) and the orbicularis of the eyes (raising of the cheeks and contraction of the eyes).
Not being on the top step can instead also lead to showing only a social smile (without twitching the eyes) or contempt (without twitching the eyes but with dragging the corners of the mouth horizontally and / or raising the chin and / or one-sided smile.
Even the body language of triumph knows no cultural boundaries. Whether we are talking about indigenous tribes or athletes who realize they have won, the reaction is the same: to show a wonderful mix of basic emotions even if the reference culture induces to show humility in public. This manifestation translates into raising the chin (typical of pride), hands and arms upwards, legs slightly apart (present in happiness and in those emotions that show security).
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