Smirking/laughing when in trouble

[Shanster]

My DD is 7 and whenever she's in trouble she smirks and sometimes starts to laugh. She's rarely remorseful, even when she's done something pretty awful. The smirking makes me angry, then I escalate (instead of just telling her off, ban her from TV for a week for example). She's done this since she was a toddler, and I'm not sure if its a nervous thing, or if she just doesn't give a damn - or both.
Does anyone else have experience of this?

In my own experience this is what happens with very sensitive children who hate being in trouble. My older dc has always been able to manage a very charming and sincere-sounding apology: it took me a while to realise that this is because she doesn't actually care as deeply as my younger dc.

What I would do would be simply to deal with the original misdemeanour and ignore any reaction. And be prepared to move on quickly.

I can't speak for everyone and every child is different why they do this but when I was younger I would try and act like I didn't care when I was told off and it's because I thought they were just trying to get to me (be nasty) so I mustn't let them. Don't show any emotion. Don't give them what they want. I think it was because I didn't feel loved, my sister was more loved than me. I'm just sharing how I felt, I know this could well off the mark for your child but just in case it helps anyone. Not cuddles and assurance I was loved and I love you but I don't like it when you do such and such would have helped me but that's just me