{"id":21881,"date":"2020-10-25T09:06:48","date_gmt":"2020-10-25T05:06:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gncdubai.com\/?p=21881"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:53:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T12:53:32","slug":"covid-19-uae-smiles-gone-psychologist-alfred-gulf-explains-gulf-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gncdubai.com\/ar\/covid-19-uae-smiles-gone-psychologist-alfred-gulf-explains-gulf-news\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Is Suppressing Smiles in UAE: Psychologist Explains"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>A look at how the masked out facial expression is being sorely missed amid the pandemic. Wearing a mask checks the spread of anything contagious. Now is that why even our infectious smiles have disappeared these days?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>No matter where we go or whom we see \u2013 no one seems to be smiling anymore; the grin is visibly missing, and all that is stretched between ear-to-ear is that deadpan, but non-negotiable, device called the face mask.<\/p>\n<p>As the combat against COVID-19 continues and people comply with mask mandates to stay protected, it\u2019s become commonplace for neighbours to walk past each other in the corridor or get into the elevator without a smile, just as it is for familiar faces to look through one another on the road, in the mall or at the supermarket.<\/p>\n<h2>The new communication barrier<\/h2>\n<p>Dubai-based British expat Sam Armstrong, a PR professional, says, \u201cI\u2019ve just realised how much we rely on the power of a smile to connect, and not being able to share a smile with someone can feel like a communication barrier sometimes. This is especially true for new relationships, such as new clients at work, and also in the community like with my son\u2019s new teacher at the start of the school year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She talks of how there have been lots of times where she has smiled but realised that the other person can\u2019t see it. \u201cThat feels quite sad. I analyse the other ways I\u2019m communicating differently from before, such as whether I am speaking clearly or if my voice is loud enough. And I\u2019m putting more thought into my digital communication, trying to make emails warmer and more personable in situations where I would otherwise have been speaking to someone face-to-face.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Smiling as a social cue<\/h2>\n<p>As a social cue, a smile is something we have been employing to engage with people from when we were infants. Now suddenly, having to find alternative ways of greeting or communicating is proving to be a big deal for many.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can get awkward, especially in fleeting scenarios like passing by someone you know and don\u2019t really have anything to say except exchange a quick smile. The look in your eyes may not always convey that greeting with the glasses on,\u201d says Tarun Bhatia, an Indian expat engineer in Dubai.<\/p>\n<h2>The science behind the smile<\/h2>\n<p>Much as we may think we break into a smile effortlessly, there is an actual process involved. The science behind the smile, which has lent itself to many fascinating studies, reveals how the prototypical facial expression is broadly formed as a result of the face\u2019s zygomaticus major and minor muscles pulling up the corners of the mouth. There\u2019s also the orbicularis oculi that causes the eye crinkle. The Duchenne smile, which is much talked about in the vast literature on smiles, is the one that reaches the eyes, making the corners wrinkle up with crow\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n<h2>Now what triggers these muscles to form a smile is more than just anatomical.<\/h2>\n<p>While some may contend that there is little to smile about amid the pandemic \u2013 it\u2019s worth looking at what generally causes us to smile. The sight of a close friend, a heartwarming comment, a favourite song on air \u2026 the list can go on. Every time there is some such sensory trigger, the emotional information is conveyed to the brain which in turn sends signals to the face, prompting the zygomaticus muscles into action. The whole process takes place within split seconds, which explains why the smile, which can be such a handy tool when we go about our busy lives, is being sorely missed as malls and other public places are transformed into a sea of masked faces.<\/p>\n<h2>No hugs and handshakes too<\/h2>\n<p>Alfred Gull, clinical psychologist, German Neuroscience Centre, Dubai, says, \u201cMuch as we need them, face masks can restrict facial expressions and gestures, which are very important for many people in perceiving others. Without the emotional expressions, the other person\u2019s assessment is almost completely switched off, since the voice is less clear. Therefore, one is dependent on the perception of several senses even more than usual.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He says since other emotional gestures, such as hugs and handshakes, are obsolete in the pandemic context, it is difficult or even impossible for people to assess their counterpart correctly. \u201cFor my daily work, it is essential to see and name these emotional expressions. Therefore, I am glad that I am able to offer therapy online,\u201d he adds. [\u2026]\n<h2>Functions of a smile<\/h2>\n<p>Smiling is contagious &#8211; it helps spread cheer<\/p>\n<p>A smile is a social cue, a key communication tool<\/p>\n<p>People make inferences about you from your smile<\/p>\n<p>Your smile determines their response behaviour too<\/p>\n<p>A smile triggers positive feelings<\/p>\n<p>Most important, a smile releases endorphins which are the body\u2019s natural painkillers<\/p>\n<p>The full and original article was published in <a href=\"https:\/\/gulfnews.com\/uae\/covid-19-in-uae-where-have-all-the-smiles-gone-1.74430463\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gulf News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A look at how the masked out facial expression is being sorely missed amid the pandemic. Wearing a mask checks the spread of anything contagious. Now is that why even our infectious smiles have disappeared these days? No matter where we go or whom we see \u2013 no one seems to be smiling anymore; the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>COVID-19 Is Suppressing Smiles in UAE: Psychologist Explains<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dubai: Wearing a mask checks the spread of anything contagious. 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