He likely smiled with his eyes because he was genuinely happy, amused, or attracted to you. This type of smile, often referred to as a "Duchenne smile," involves the muscles around the eyes, suggesting sincerity and strong positive emotion.
Here's a breakdown of possible reasons:
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Genuine Happiness/Amusement: A genuine smile engages the muscles around the eyes (orbicularis oculi) creating wrinkles or crinkling at the corners. If he smiled with his eyes, it suggests the happiness or amusement was authentic.
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Attraction/Interest: According to the provided reference, smiling with the eyes can signify attraction. It can mean "he likes you so much that he couldn't stop smiling at you." A genuine smile indicates warmth and openness, which are often associated with romantic or friendly interest. He might also be signaling that he wants you to continue talking, thus providing him with the opportunity to look at you for a longer duration.
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Engagement in the Conversation: If he smiled with his eyes while you were talking, it could indicate he was captivated and truly listening. A sincere smile often accompanies active listening and engagement.
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Non-Verbal Communication: People sometimes use smiles to convey emotions or intentions without explicitly stating them. The eye smile can be a subtle way of expressing positivity and connection.
In contrast, a forced or insincere smile typically doesn't involve the eye muscles. The reference notes that if he doesn't smile through his eyes, it might indicate boredom.
In summary, smiling with the eyes is generally a sign of positive emotion, such as happiness, attraction, or genuine interest in the conversation and/or the person he is interacting with.
