Using a more sensitive measure than has been used in previous
research, we found both similarities and subtle age differences in
interpreting positive facial expressions. No age differences were
found in the ability to discriminate between enjoyment and nonenjoyment
smiles. However, older adults had a greater bias toward
thinking that individuals were feeling happy when they were
displaying either enjoyment or nonenjoyment smiles (Study 1). In
addition, when not explicitly instructed to attend to the facial
expression of the individual, older adults were less likely than the
younger group to approach someone displaying an enjoyment