What do you think?
Rate this book
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals: Originally Illustrated
"He who admits that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved, will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light." - Charles Darwin, The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872)
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) includes original photographic as well as other illustrations by noted scientists Sir Charles Bell and French neurologist Duchenne, among others. This volume is the third in Darwin's explanation of his evolutionary theory, preceded by The Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871), and delves into the biology of emotions and whether those characteristics are exclusive to western civilization. Darwin links animal behavior to human emotions and provides the foundation for the work of noted psychologists such as Freud. This landmark work is a must-read for lovers of biology, Darwin, and psychology.
The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872) includes original photographic as well as other illustrations by noted scientists Sir Charles Bell and French neurologist Duchenne, among others. This volume is the third in Darwin's explanation of his evolutionary theory, preceded by The Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871), and delves into the biology of emotions and whether those characteristics are exclusive to western civilization. Darwin links animal behavior to human emotions and provides the foundation for the work of noted psychologists such as Freud. This landmark work is a must-read for lovers of biology, Darwin, and psychology.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1872
373 people are currently reading
7862 people want to read
About the author
Charles Darwin
2,422 books3,474 followersCharles Robert Darwin of Britain revolutionized the study of biology with his theory, based on natural selection; his most famous works include
On the Origin of Species
(1859) and
The Descent of Man
(1871).
Chiefly Asa Gray of America advocated his theories.
Works of Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (1941).
Charles Robert Darwin, an eminent English collector and geologist, proposed and provided scientific evidence of common ancestors for all life over time through the process that he called. The scientific community and the public in his lifetime accepted the facts that occur and then in the 1930s widely came to see the primary explanation of the process that now forms modernity. In modified form, the foundational scientific discovery of Darwin provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
Darwin developed his interest in history and medicine at Edinburgh University and then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist, whose observations and supported uniformitarian ideas of Charles Lyell, and publication of his journal made him as a popular author. Darwin collected wildlife and fossils on the voyage, but their geographical distribution puzzled him, who investigated the transmutation and conceived idea in 1838. He discussed his ideas but needed time for extensive research despite priority of geology. He wrote in 1858, when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay, which described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication.
His book of 1859 commonly established the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human sexuality in Selection in Relation to Sex , and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals followed. A series of books published his research on plants, and he finally examined effect of earthworms on soil.
A state funeral recognized Darwin in recognition of preeminence and only four other non-royal personages of the United Kingdom of the 19th century; people buried his body in Westminster abbey, close to those of John Herschel and Isaac Newton.
Her fathered Francis Darwin, astronomer George Darwin, and politician, economist and eugenicist Leonard Darwin.
(Arabic: تشارلز داروين)
Chiefly Asa Gray of America advocated his theories.
Works of Jacques Martin Barzun include Darwin, Marx, Wagner (1941).
Charles Robert Darwin, an eminent English collector and geologist, proposed and provided scientific evidence of common ancestors for all life over time through the process that he called. The scientific community and the public in his lifetime accepted the facts that occur and then in the 1930s widely came to see the primary explanation of the process that now forms modernity. In modified form, the foundational scientific discovery of Darwin provides a unifying logical explanation for the diversity of life.
Darwin developed his interest in history and medicine at Edinburgh University and then theology at Cambridge. His five-year voyage on the Beagle established him as a geologist, whose observations and supported uniformitarian ideas of Charles Lyell, and publication of his journal made him as a popular author. Darwin collected wildlife and fossils on the voyage, but their geographical distribution puzzled him, who investigated the transmutation and conceived idea in 1838. He discussed his ideas but needed time for extensive research despite priority of geology. He wrote in 1858, when Alfred Russel Wallace sent him an essay, which described the same idea, prompting immediate joint publication.
His book of 1859 commonly established the dominant scientific explanation of diversification in nature. He examined human sexuality in Selection in Relation to Sex , and The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals followed. A series of books published his research on plants, and he finally examined effect of earthworms on soil.
A state funeral recognized Darwin in recognition of preeminence and only four other non-royal personages of the United Kingdom of the 19th century; people buried his body in Westminster abbey, close to those of John Herschel and Isaac Newton.
Her fathered Francis Darwin, astronomer George Darwin, and politician, economist and eugenicist Leonard Darwin.
(Arabic: تشارلز داروين)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
October 13, 2025
Given our troubled world, I find it helpful to remember that empathy is essential to human and animal nature. The study of emotion must lead us toward a deeper understanding of these universal, powerful forces that energize and transform our lives. Expression is an old friend.
I learned then that he had gathered his observations over 30 years. His subjects included animals, human infants, children, adults from every walk of life, and individuals from diverse cultures. Moreover, he approached the study of emotional expression from the perspectives of art, literature, inner experience, and the muscles and nervous system. Although it was first published around 150 years ago (1872), Darwin's work continues to inspire and inform contemporary research in many fields.
This work makes a significant contribution to interdisciplinary studies that converge on psychology and biology. It is a crucial piece of Darwin's work. Suppose the well-known decay of the field of psychology in the early years of the 20th century is considered. When the genetic followers forgot about the behaviors, the psychologists did without anatomy and physiology, briefly diminishing the influence on the actual contributions. The culmination of modern etiology has led to the rediscovery of this extraordinary and even singular text.
What Darwin considers authentic expressions to be, precisely, are the reflexes and instincts that suppose not only the innate capacity to react in a determined way but also the innate acknowledgment of that expression in others.
That's a whole and unfairly underappreciated book that deserves to be recognized for its significant value.
I learned then that he had gathered his observations over 30 years. His subjects included animals, human infants, children, adults from every walk of life, and individuals from diverse cultures. Moreover, he approached the study of emotional expression from the perspectives of art, literature, inner experience, and the muscles and nervous system. Although it was first published around 150 years ago (1872), Darwin's work continues to inspire and inform contemporary research in many fields.
This work makes a significant contribution to interdisciplinary studies that converge on psychology and biology. It is a crucial piece of Darwin's work. Suppose the well-known decay of the field of psychology in the early years of the 20th century is considered. When the genetic followers forgot about the behaviors, the psychologists did without anatomy and physiology, briefly diminishing the influence on the actual contributions. The culmination of modern etiology has led to the rediscovery of this extraordinary and even singular text.
What Darwin considers authentic expressions to be, precisely, are the reflexes and instincts that suppose not only the innate capacity to react in a determined way but also the innate acknowledgment of that expression in others.
That's a whole and unfairly underappreciated book that deserves to be recognized for its significant value.
September 16, 2015
Let me tell you how I got to this book.
You may already know the dictum of Jean Paul Sartre about animals as ‘animated things’, that is animals are moving things without emotions. This has revolted me always, but only recently I delved into this, subsequent to my encounter with a calf.
I have been observing this calf being licked tenderly by its mother cow, particularly on his head. This is a calf that always stays away from the rest of the calves. Then, after he came to see me over a number of days, once he approached me, while I was sitting down and observing.
I tried to reach out, but he moved back. So I withdrew my hand and touched my own head, the way his mother does on his head. The calf’s face relaxed. And, for an instant, his eyes brightened, and the skin around them crinkled as if he was smiling!!
This threw me off for a while. I searched on Amazon and found this book written by Darwin. A really informative book, with lots of comparison between animals and us.
You bet, my opinion on animals changed after that.
You may already know the dictum of Jean Paul Sartre about animals as ‘animated things’, that is animals are moving things without emotions. This has revolted me always, but only recently I delved into this, subsequent to my encounter with a calf.
I have been observing this calf being licked tenderly by its mother cow, particularly on his head. This is a calf that always stays away from the rest of the calves. Then, after he came to see me over a number of days, once he approached me, while I was sitting down and observing.
I tried to reach out, but he moved back. So I withdrew my hand and touched my own head, the way his mother does on his head. The calf’s face relaxed. And, for an instant, his eyes brightened, and the skin around them crinkled as if he was smiling!!
This threw me off for a while. I searched on Amazon and found this book written by Darwin. A really informative book, with lots of comparison between animals and us.
You bet, my opinion on animals changed after that.
July 7, 2025
I borrowed this book from an author I look after. The drawings are limited to showing similarities between humans' and other primates' expressions. But I've seen more than this, such as a cow's sorrowful void after her calf was taken for slaughter, agony in the eyes of a fighting bull dying in a French arena, a dog's dilemma in facing a violent owner, a horse's guilt for throwing its rider...
Is this similarity a surprise? I don't think so. The celiac muscles that control our eye's opening and the facial muscles that lift our cheeks are regulated by emotions, as it happens for other animals.
Is this similarity a surprise? I don't think so. The celiac muscles that control our eye's opening and the facial muscles that lift our cheeks are regulated by emotions, as it happens for other animals.
November 1, 2015
عجيب هذا الرجل في ملاحظاته وتأملاته، ولا أبالغ عندما أقول أن هذا الرجل آية كونية عظيمة من آيات الخالق :)
ما لفتني في هذا الرجل أيضا هذه الأمانة العلمية التي يتمتع بها، وعزوه للنصوص والملاحطات والرسوم، والإشادة بجهود الباحثين، داروين نموذج فريد للعالم النبيل، والخلوق.
أما الكتاب مذهل في بابه، وكانت الترجمة موفقة، وأسلوب داروين سلس وجميل في عرضه للأدلة و الملاحظات.
طبعا هذا الكتاب أردا به داروين أن يدعم به نظريته المشهورة نظرية "الإنتخاب الطبيعي" وهذا ما قرره وختم به كتابه حيث ذكر أن في سياقه لهذه الأدلة والملاحظات دليل على أن الإنسان إنخرط من جنس أقل منه رقيا.
ما لفتني في هذا الرجل أيضا هذه الأمانة العلمية التي يتمتع بها، وعزوه للنصوص والملاحطات والرسوم، والإشادة بجهود الباحثين، داروين نموذج فريد للعالم النبيل، والخلوق.
أما الكتاب مذهل في بابه، وكانت الترجمة موفقة، وأسلوب داروين سلس وجميل في عرضه للأدلة و الملاحظات.
طبعا هذا الكتاب أردا به داروين أن يدعم به نظريته المشهورة نظرية "الإنتخاب الطبيعي" وهذا ما قرره وختم به كتابه حيث ذكر أن في سياقه لهذه الأدلة والملاحظات دليل على أن الإنسان إنخرط من جنس أقل منه رقيا.
November 3, 2011
Warning: if you read this book in a public space - like, say, a Subway - you will absent-mindedly start contorting your face in line with the facial expressions described in this book.
May 12, 2008
This book is more a historical document than a scientific paper, by today's requirements for scientific documents.
Darwing collects here his notes on the expressions of humans with a single chapter about animals and some referrences to monkeys, so the title is highly misleading (it annoyed me, anyways).
Despite that, this work is at the root of understanding both human and animal behavior and the three principles of expression are now evidently the base of every modern theory on animal and human behavior and that, in itself, gives this book a historical value.
Darwing depicts his notes on his own children, on various and un-measured sightings of human and animal beahvior (like "I once saw a girl doing ___ " or "my neighbour's dog once ___ ") which nower days would be completely unfit for scientific research. Those were the days, though, and for anyone interested or amused by the development of scientific thinking and research this book is an enjoyable gem.
Another historical value this book has is in the fact that, in order to investigate human expression in human societies relatively unexposed and influenced by Eurpoean man, Darwin had a small army of informants at remote Biritsh colonies investigating and reporting of their experiences with the local natives. These informants were judges, policemen, missionaries and wives of various officials. With these times long gone (thankfully), it's a reminder and a documentation of the spirits of the time and the way these far-away cultures, still unchanged at the time, behaved.
This book is not an easy read as the english is that of Victorian times and often words that mean one thing to us mean another, when he author is concerned, and the unabridged version hold a lot of repeating and coarse writing that's not for readers who just want an easy book to stare at.
Still, it's a good book, and for historians with a love for human studies, it's a good book.
Darwing collects here his notes on the expressions of humans with a single chapter about animals and some referrences to monkeys, so the title is highly misleading (it annoyed me, anyways).
Despite that, this work is at the root of understanding both human and animal behavior and the three principles of expression are now evidently the base of every modern theory on animal and human behavior and that, in itself, gives this book a historical value.
Darwing depicts his notes on his own children, on various and un-measured sightings of human and animal beahvior (like "I once saw a girl doing ___ " or "my neighbour's dog once ___ ") which nower days would be completely unfit for scientific research. Those were the days, though, and for anyone interested or amused by the development of scientific thinking and research this book is an enjoyable gem.
Another historical value this book has is in the fact that, in order to investigate human expression in human societies relatively unexposed and influenced by Eurpoean man, Darwin had a small army of informants at remote Biritsh colonies investigating and reporting of their experiences with the local natives. These informants were judges, policemen, missionaries and wives of various officials. With these times long gone (thankfully), it's a reminder and a documentation of the spirits of the time and the way these far-away cultures, still unchanged at the time, behaved.
This book is not an easy read as the english is that of Victorian times and often words that mean one thing to us mean another, when he author is concerned, and the unabridged version hold a lot of repeating and coarse writing that's not for readers who just want an easy book to stare at.
Still, it's a good book, and for historians with a love for human studies, it's a good book.
November 18, 2018
Under-appreciated historic classic and sadly, most updated textbook we have on the subject.
September 17, 2023
Make sure you read the Paul Ekman-edited new version. Darwin, of course, is a genius, and this book seems so modern so as to be unimpressive for our era. It was ahead of its time in its cross-cultural analysis in Darwin's era, and even in the 60s Darwin's theories caused a scandal in the anthropology field between a then-established Margaret Mead, and the young Paul Ekman. Do not skip the intro, where this fascinating meta-story is told!
February 26, 2023
لم يعلم السيد داروين انه بملاحظاته الدقيقة هذه على الانواع المختلفة من الحيوانات و الحيوانات العليا( الإنسان) سعيا وراء التوسع فى اثبات نظريته عن النشوء و الارتقاء ، أنه بذلك من اوائل من وضعوا ملاحظات دقيقة عن الانفعالات البشرية و اسبابها و محاولة تتبع اصلها اذا كانت متوارثة من آباءنا او ظهرت من خلال التجمعات البشرية و اختلاف الثقافات ... و اكتشف من خلال ملاحظاته ان بعض الانفعالات عالمية تتواجد فى كل الاعراق ..... و يتفرد الجنس البشرى ببعض الانفعالات كاحمرار الوجه و التورد عند الخجل...و يمكن أن يعتبر بحثه هذا احد المراجع الهامة و الاولى للمهتمين بدراسة علم النفس و السلوك الإنسانى. يثبت داروين من خلال كتاباته انه من اعظم الملاحظين و المراقبين فى تاريخنا البشرى و احد من دفعوا العلم إلى أقصى حدوده فى ذلك الوقت.
July 27, 2013
آااااه .. وأخيرا" انتهيت من تناول عشرة كيلوغرامات من الشحوم والدهون الثلاثية! ربما الكتاب ليس بهذه الدسامة لكنه أوائل الكتب العلمية الصرفة التي قرأتها مما دعاني لهذا الإحساس.
الكتاب يحتوي على نظريات تفسر إنحدار بعض التعبيرات عند الإنسان من الحيوانات الأقل رقيا"، كما يفسر منشأ أو أصول البعض الآخر استنادا" إلى مبادئ ثلاثة عامة في التعبير يحاول شرحها في الفصول الأولى من الكتاب. ويتحدث الكتاب أيضا" عن النواحي الفيزيولوجية لمختلف مظاهر التعبير الجسدي عند الإنسان وبعض الحيوانات.
عادة"، طالما كنت ذلك الشخص الخجول الذي غالبا" ما يحاول قدر الإمكان تجنب تواصل العيون مع الآخرين خاصة الغرباء وقلما تمعنت النظر في وجه شخص لفترة طويلة بداعي الحياء أو الخجل، ولكن بعد أن بدأت في قراءة هذا الكتاب اصبح نظري يتفحص الأشخاص الذين يقفون أمامي، وجوههم، عيونهم، حركات أجسادهم، يحاول جاهدا" إدراك أو استنتاج أو التثبت من الجزيئات أو التفاصيل التي تخص العديد من مختلف أنواع التعبير التي قرأت عنها ضمن هذا الكتاب! اصبحت انظر لبكاء الطفل وصراخه بطريقة مختلفة، لغريزة الأمومة، للضحك، للبكاء، حتى القبلات .. فمن الأفكار التي جذبتني خلال قراءة هذا الكتاب هي أن التقبيل هو من العادات الشائعة عند البشر منذ أقدم السلالات للتعبير عن الحب أو الحنان، وقد دعاني هذا للتفكر بأنها تأتي بالتوازي مع الإحساس بالحاجة للتلامس أو ملامسة الأشخاص ال��ين نحبهم، ولربما كان التفسير العلمي لهذين النوعين من طرق التعبير كونهما الأكثر لذة وإشباع للرغبة أو الاحاسيس الفياضة هي أن الشفاه ورؤوس الأصابع هي أكثر مناطق الجسم غزارة بالحاسات اللمسية.
قد يكون الكتاب قديم نوعا" ما ولا يرقى لمستوى التطور في علوم الفيزيولوجيا الذي نشهده اليوم خاصة في أساليب التجربة و الاستنتاج البسيطة التي تعتمد كليا" على المراقبة الشخصية أو تعيين مراقبين آخرين، لكن الكتاب حتما" يحتوي على معلومات وأفكار جديرة بالاهتمام لكل الأشخاص المهتمين بالعلوم البيولوجية والفيزيولوجية، والكتاب لايخلو من بعض المطارح التي قد تضيف لك شيئا" فكريا" عند التفكر بها، لكن الكتاب بالعموم هو حتما" كتاب علمي، وأنا شخصيا" وجدت دراسة أساليب التعبير عند الكائنات عامة والإنسان خاصة موضوع مشوق ومثير للإهتمام، واعتقد أني سأقرأ المزيد عنه في المستقبل إن شاء الله.
الكتاب يحتوي على نظريات تفسر إنحدار بعض التعبيرات عند الإنسان من الحيوانات الأقل رقيا"، كما يفسر منشأ أو أصول البعض الآخر استنادا" إلى مبادئ ثلاثة عامة في التعبير يحاول شرحها في الفصول الأولى من الكتاب. ويتحدث الكتاب أيضا" عن النواحي الفيزيولوجية لمختلف مظاهر التعبير الجسدي عند الإنسان وبعض الحيوانات.
عادة"، طالما كنت ذلك الشخص الخجول الذي غالبا" ما يحاول قدر الإمكان تجنب تواصل العيون مع الآخرين خاصة الغرباء وقلما تمعنت النظر في وجه شخص لفترة طويلة بداعي الحياء أو الخجل، ولكن بعد أن بدأت في قراءة هذا الكتاب اصبح نظري يتفحص الأشخاص الذين يقفون أمامي، وجوههم، عيونهم، حركات أجسادهم، يحاول جاهدا" إدراك أو استنتاج أو التثبت من الجزيئات أو التفاصيل التي تخص العديد من مختلف أنواع التعبير التي قرأت عنها ضمن هذا الكتاب! اصبحت انظر لبكاء الطفل وصراخه بطريقة مختلفة، لغريزة الأمومة، للضحك، للبكاء، حتى القبلات .. فمن الأفكار التي جذبتني خلال قراءة هذا الكتاب هي أن التقبيل هو من العادات الشائعة عند البشر منذ أقدم السلالات للتعبير عن الحب أو الحنان، وقد دعاني هذا للتفكر بأنها تأتي بالتوازي مع الإحساس بالحاجة للتلامس أو ملامسة الأشخاص ال��ين نحبهم، ولربما كان التفسير العلمي لهذين النوعين من طرق التعبير كونهما الأكثر لذة وإشباع للرغبة أو الاحاسيس الفياضة هي أن الشفاه ورؤوس الأصابع هي أكثر مناطق الجسم غزارة بالحاسات اللمسية.
قد يكون الكتاب قديم نوعا" ما ولا يرقى لمستوى التطور في علوم الفيزيولوجيا الذي نشهده اليوم خاصة في أساليب التجربة و الاستنتاج البسيطة التي تعتمد كليا" على المراقبة الشخصية أو تعيين مراقبين آخرين، لكن الكتاب حتما" يحتوي على معلومات وأفكار جديرة بالاهتمام لكل الأشخاص المهتمين بالعلوم البيولوجية والفيزيولوجية، والكتاب لايخلو من بعض المطارح التي قد تضيف لك شيئا" فكريا" عند التفكر بها، لكن الكتاب بالعموم هو حتما" كتاب علمي، وأنا شخصيا" وجدت دراسة أساليب التعبير عند الكائنات عامة والإنسان خاصة موضوع مشوق ومثير للإهتمام، واعتقد أني سأقرأ المزيد عنه في المستقبل إن شاء الله.
September 30, 2012
كتاب فسلجة بإمتياز. أهتم بطرق وأسباب التعبيرات في الإنسان والحيوان عن طريق مبادئ ثلاثة عامة في التعبير هي مبدأ العادات المقرونة بالفائدة ومبدأ النقيض أو الأطروحة المضادة وأخيراً مبدأ الفعاليات المسببة عن الجهاز العصبي والمستقلة تماماً عن الإرادة وإلى حد ما عن العادة. كشف الضوء على بعض التعقيدات في الجهاز العصبي لدينا أو حتى في الحيوانات مثل إذا طرأت حالتان ذهنيتان بنفس الوقت, أو بتعاقب متناغم في ترددها أو شدتها فإن الحالة الأولى تكون كافية لإستدعاء الحالة الأخرى سواء رغبنا فيها أو لم نرغب. وهناك أيظاً فعاليات أخرى تحدث سببها هو المحاكاة أو التعاطف وهي تقليد تعابير آخرى نراها ولكن قد تكون بلا أي فائدة تذكر لنا. أكثر موضوع مشيق هو الضحك وهل في إستطاعة الحيوانات أن تضحك, بحثت في الآنترنت عن دراسات وشاهدت عدد من الفيديوات ورغم أن ضحكاتها تختلف قليلاً وأحيانا تكون بلا صوت فإنها تشبه ضحكة الإنسان رغم أن ضحك الإنسان لا يزال فريداً من نوعه. ما أستفزني هو بعض إستنتاجات داروين لتفسير بعض تعبيرات الغضب لدى الإنسان على أن لها أصل للحيوان شبيه القرد. ولكن أليس هناك الكثير من التعابير التي تشبه باقي الحيوانات وليس القرود فقط. ولكن سأقتبس ما قاله هو بالحرف الواحد: وسيبقى عدد من النقاط التابعة لنظرية التعبير غامضاً وغير قابل للتفسير.
March 20, 2025
Um dos meus mais queridos e admirados livros! Apesar de publicado originalmente em 1872, continua muito atual e muito essencial para a compreensão das emoções e a forma como estas se expressam em diferentes espécies. Defende que muitos gestos e expressões faciais têm uma base biológica comum entre humanos e animais, o que significou um passo fundamental para o estudo da evolução do comportamento e das emoções, sendo um dos primeiros estudos sistemáticos sobre o tema e, como tal, uma obra fundamental para a psicologia, a biologia evolutiva e a antropologia.
Uma das muitas contribuições mais interessantes do livro é a ideia de que as expressões emocionais não são apenas culturais, mas sim universais e herdadas. Darwin sustenta que certas expressões, como o sorriso ou o franzir das sobrancelhas, surgem de mecanismos biológicos comuns e não apenas de convenções sociais, um argumento que viria a ser confirmado mais tarde por investigações de Paul Ekman (especialista em comunicação não verbal), que demonstraram a universalidade das expressões faciais básicas entre diferentes culturas.
É um daqueles livros que gosto de ir “espreitar” de vez em quando. Nunca está completamente lido.
Uma das muitas contribuições mais interessantes do livro é a ideia de que as expressões emocionais não são apenas culturais, mas sim universais e herdadas. Darwin sustenta que certas expressões, como o sorriso ou o franzir das sobrancelhas, surgem de mecanismos biológicos comuns e não apenas de convenções sociais, um argumento que viria a ser confirmado mais tarde por investigações de Paul Ekman (especialista em comunicação não verbal), que demonstraram a universalidade das expressões faciais básicas entre diferentes culturas.
É um daqueles livros que gosto de ir “espreitar” de vez em quando. Nunca está completamente lido.
September 29, 2017
Charles Darwin has started his argument in this book on three principles;
1- the movements which are serviceable in gratifying some desire or in relieving some sensation.
2- Antithesis: the habit of voluntarily performing opposite movements under opposite impulses has become firmly established in us by the practice of our whole lives.
3- The direct action of the excited nervous system on the body, independently of the will, and independently, in large part, of the habit.
On the one hand I have seen a great show of evidences support his point of view based on studies and correspondences with great doctors and philosophers.
On the other hand; he hasn’t use any theological evidence, e. g. Bible passages and/or Quran verses. He’s simply used the scientific methods and research’s.
By ending this texture you will be able to determine, examine and understand yours and other reactions in each time.
This book can be used as a reference for sure!
1- the movements which are serviceable in gratifying some desire or in relieving some sensation.
2- Antithesis: the habit of voluntarily performing opposite movements under opposite impulses has become firmly established in us by the practice of our whole lives.
3- The direct action of the excited nervous system on the body, independently of the will, and independently, in large part, of the habit.
On the one hand I have seen a great show of evidences support his point of view based on studies and correspondences with great doctors and philosophers.
On the other hand; he hasn’t use any theological evidence, e. g. Bible passages and/or Quran verses. He’s simply used the scientific methods and research’s.
By ending this texture you will be able to determine, examine and understand yours and other reactions in each time.
This book can be used as a reference for sure!
November 10, 2017
In On the Origin of Species (1859), Charles Darwin explained how species originate via a continuous process of natural selection that shapes organisms, over eons of time, into the funtioning complexities that they are, suited for a particular way of life. In The Descent of Man (1871), Darwin applied his theory of evolution by natural selection to mankind. The difference between mankind and animals is one of degree, not of kind: there are vestiges in man of our animal past and there are primitive traces of man's capabilities in animals. The different races of mankind have come about -
according to Darwin, not to modern evolutinary biologists - through sexual selection.
During the writing of The Descent of Man, Darwin collected more and more information on the expression of emotions in mankind and in animals. He decided to cut it from manuscript and make it into a standalone book: The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals (1872).
There is a clear gap between his Origins and Descent on the one side and Expression on the other side, though. The first two books are classics and can still be read by modern day readers: they contain gems of truth and are, historically speaking, influential masterpieces. Expressions is nothing like this. I will explain why this is so in following paragraphs, and this will let anyone decide is he/she wants to read this book or not.
Darwin's main thesis in Expressions is that the (for the most part involuntary) emotions that we express daily are the result of our evolutionary past. The expression of these emotions had an adaptive function during the lifetimes of our ancestors. This means (1) that animals and humans share common expressions (or at least the mechanisms of expressing those emotions) and (2) that human emotions have their origin in animal instincts.
The way Darwin works out his thesis is unorthodox. He compiles lots and lots of data and meticulously describes all the physical expressions of the emotions; each chapter deals with different types of emotions and therefore the Expressions can better be viewed as an 'Encyclopedia of Emotions' than as a book. This is one of the main reasons why Expressions is not really interesting for modern day readers: endless summations of emotions - not really an attractive foresight.
Another point that has to be stressed is that modern day cognitive psychology and neuroscience have unearthed much knowledge that Darwin didn't have access to. This means that Darwin's interpretations are almost all outdated. This makes it, sort of, redundant to read Expressions.
So why read it at all? Well, there are two important reasons for reading this.
First, one should focus on Darwin's method and not on his answers. Darwin tried to argue that human beings and animals share a common past and therefore share a lot of commonalities in the expression of emotions. Darwin collects evidence to prove his point via many different methods. He sent questionnaires abroad to the British colonial enterprises to acquire data on emotions from different races; he used the then-new technique of photographing people; he studied the insane (on the assumption that these people show pure emotions, whereas healthy persons cover up a lot of emotions); he used the research of Duchenne who used electroshocks to stimulate different facial areas to study the emotions; he observed children (mostly his own) in their emotive expressions; and he gathered much information of other (international) experts in the field.
In short, Darwin gathered an enormous database. That his analysis was qualitative (i.e. not statistical, as most of modern science is) is a minor detail: the content of his database was faulty, incomplete and he analyzed it in the wrong way - yet, his method was unique compared to his contemporaries. In other words, Darwin was the first scientist to study the emotive expressions of man and animals in a scientific way.
Second, Darwin's contemporaries used obscure hypotheses to explain all of mankind's peculiarities. Darwin was one of the few who was prepared to go the whole mile. As soon as you accept evolution by natural selection as the driving force behind natural diversity, mankind's favored position crumbles (hence The Descent (!) of Man). No longer is there a hierarchy in nature; all that remains is a tree of geneaology, of which mankind is just one little (and very recent) branch. In other words, mankind is a product of evolution, just like the rest of life on planet Earth, and hence we have to explain mankind's features with reference to our evolutionary past. This last step was too much for most of Darwin's contemporaries (Wallace, Lyell, etc.), who tried to come up with pseudo-scientific and arbitrary reasons why mankind was to be regarded as special creation (for example, clinging on to Descartes' dualism of mind/body).
Darwin tried in his Descent and Expressions to come up with a uniform and general principle, a natural explanation, for all of mankind's characteristics and traits. In that sense, Expressions is 'just' volume 3 of Descent. It is important to realize what Darwin did: for the first time a scientist offered a (convincing) natural explanation for all that man is. Mankind differs in degree from the other animals; there is no distinction in kind between man and the rest of life. This message is not really explicitly stated in Darwin's own work, but one can see with hindsight Darwin's revolutionary break with the past. So, this is a good reason for reading Expressions (especially if one has read, and enjoyed, The Descent of Man).
So, to sum up: the content of Expressions is outdated, its method is flawed, yet the revolutionary character of offering a natural explanation for the emotions of man (and animals) is a timeless component of this book. It is a historical document, and offers a fruitful way of thinking about humanity.
As a last remark, I'd like to add that Darwin's approach to the psychology of mankind (in Expressions our emotional sphere) has been vindicated in the (fairly recently established) field of evolutionary psychology. This science tries to explain all of man's mental faculties by tracing them to our evolutionary past. This has led to a whole new way of interpreting the results of mainstream psychology, which offers only proximate explanations, whereas evolutionary psychology offers ultimate explanations. This fact alone establishes the wisdom of Charles Darwin, who has been vindicated on lots of different points (his theory of evolution by natural selection, the role of sexual selection, etc.). The man clearly was a genius.
according to Darwin, not to modern evolutinary biologists - through sexual selection.
During the writing of The Descent of Man, Darwin collected more and more information on the expression of emotions in mankind and in animals. He decided to cut it from manuscript and make it into a standalone book: The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals (1872).
There is a clear gap between his Origins and Descent on the one side and Expression on the other side, though. The first two books are classics and can still be read by modern day readers: they contain gems of truth and are, historically speaking, influential masterpieces. Expressions is nothing like this. I will explain why this is so in following paragraphs, and this will let anyone decide is he/she wants to read this book or not.
Darwin's main thesis in Expressions is that the (for the most part involuntary) emotions that we express daily are the result of our evolutionary past. The expression of these emotions had an adaptive function during the lifetimes of our ancestors. This means (1) that animals and humans share common expressions (or at least the mechanisms of expressing those emotions) and (2) that human emotions have their origin in animal instincts.
The way Darwin works out his thesis is unorthodox. He compiles lots and lots of data and meticulously describes all the physical expressions of the emotions; each chapter deals with different types of emotions and therefore the Expressions can better be viewed as an 'Encyclopedia of Emotions' than as a book. This is one of the main reasons why Expressions is not really interesting for modern day readers: endless summations of emotions - not really an attractive foresight.
Another point that has to be stressed is that modern day cognitive psychology and neuroscience have unearthed much knowledge that Darwin didn't have access to. This means that Darwin's interpretations are almost all outdated. This makes it, sort of, redundant to read Expressions.
So why read it at all? Well, there are two important reasons for reading this.
First, one should focus on Darwin's method and not on his answers. Darwin tried to argue that human beings and animals share a common past and therefore share a lot of commonalities in the expression of emotions. Darwin collects evidence to prove his point via many different methods. He sent questionnaires abroad to the British colonial enterprises to acquire data on emotions from different races; he used the then-new technique of photographing people; he studied the insane (on the assumption that these people show pure emotions, whereas healthy persons cover up a lot of emotions); he used the research of Duchenne who used electroshocks to stimulate different facial areas to study the emotions; he observed children (mostly his own) in their emotive expressions; and he gathered much information of other (international) experts in the field.
In short, Darwin gathered an enormous database. That his analysis was qualitative (i.e. not statistical, as most of modern science is) is a minor detail: the content of his database was faulty, incomplete and he analyzed it in the wrong way - yet, his method was unique compared to his contemporaries. In other words, Darwin was the first scientist to study the emotive expressions of man and animals in a scientific way.
Second, Darwin's contemporaries used obscure hypotheses to explain all of mankind's peculiarities. Darwin was one of the few who was prepared to go the whole mile. As soon as you accept evolution by natural selection as the driving force behind natural diversity, mankind's favored position crumbles (hence The Descent (!) of Man). No longer is there a hierarchy in nature; all that remains is a tree of geneaology, of which mankind is just one little (and very recent) branch. In other words, mankind is a product of evolution, just like the rest of life on planet Earth, and hence we have to explain mankind's features with reference to our evolutionary past. This last step was too much for most of Darwin's contemporaries (Wallace, Lyell, etc.), who tried to come up with pseudo-scientific and arbitrary reasons why mankind was to be regarded as special creation (for example, clinging on to Descartes' dualism of mind/body).
Darwin tried in his Descent and Expressions to come up with a uniform and general principle, a natural explanation, for all of mankind's characteristics and traits. In that sense, Expressions is 'just' volume 3 of Descent. It is important to realize what Darwin did: for the first time a scientist offered a (convincing) natural explanation for all that man is. Mankind differs in degree from the other animals; there is no distinction in kind between man and the rest of life. This message is not really explicitly stated in Darwin's own work, but one can see with hindsight Darwin's revolutionary break with the past. So, this is a good reason for reading Expressions (especially if one has read, and enjoyed, The Descent of Man).
So, to sum up: the content of Expressions is outdated, its method is flawed, yet the revolutionary character of offering a natural explanation for the emotions of man (and animals) is a timeless component of this book. It is a historical document, and offers a fruitful way of thinking about humanity.
As a last remark, I'd like to add that Darwin's approach to the psychology of mankind (in Expressions our emotional sphere) has been vindicated in the (fairly recently established) field of evolutionary psychology. This science tries to explain all of man's mental faculties by tracing them to our evolutionary past. This has led to a whole new way of interpreting the results of mainstream psychology, which offers only proximate explanations, whereas evolutionary psychology offers ultimate explanations. This fact alone establishes the wisdom of Charles Darwin, who has been vindicated on lots of different points (his theory of evolution by natural selection, the role of sexual selection, etc.). The man clearly was a genius.
August 7, 2014
Darwin was definitely a genius! This book reveals him as an ultra observant naturalist and have great imagination and abstraction. Among the three principles of expression, the 2nd- the principle of antithesis - reminded me a lot of ancient greek thoughts, e.g. unity of the opposites, - and a much neglected point by modern neuroscientists.
Nonetheless, one thing he struggled too much about is to find *one* or *only a few* reasons for the origin of the expression of a specific emotion. I may think more more like: an expression is most frequently used because it have all the possible reasons to occur, or in other words, it does not have any reason to *not* occur. Then I'd put the 3rd principle (undirected flow) as the first.
A trivial point: his writing style is definitely not my type. The first chapter about the principles was great. but the rest was like what? -- totally reminded me of my college Plant textbook -- organized in chunks of phenomenology based on some taxological assumptions. but that's more like a personal aesthetic preference.
Nonetheless, one thing he struggled too much about is to find *one* or *only a few* reasons for the origin of the expression of a specific emotion. I may think more more like: an expression is most frequently used because it have all the possible reasons to occur, or in other words, it does not have any reason to *not* occur. Then I'd put the 3rd principle (undirected flow) as the first.
A trivial point: his writing style is definitely not my type. The first chapter about the principles was great. but the rest was like what? -- totally reminded me of my college Plant textbook -- organized in chunks of phenomenology based on some taxological assumptions. but that's more like a personal aesthetic preference.
Read
June 5, 2012I don't think I'm ever going to finish this cover to cover so here goes...
Good book. Obviously not a story, but it's a fascinating observation of how emotions are expressed. Darwin well documents where all his deduction comes from, if he suspects the credibility of anything and why... and so on. If you're studying Enlightenment/Humanities/anything along those lines, it's also a good firsthand look into the MO and influences of thinkers of the time.
Nevermind how notable Darwin is.
Good book. Obviously not a story, but it's a fascinating observation of how emotions are expressed. Darwin well documents where all his deduction comes from, if he suspects the credibility of anything and why... and so on. If you're studying Enlightenment/Humanities/anything along those lines, it's also a good firsthand look into the MO and influences of thinkers of the time.
Nevermind how notable Darwin is.
July 3, 2022
I started reading this book with great expectations which I could hold upp to the middle of the book.Unfortunatley I bought a bad copy and the supposed illustrations were not included in the book. After the middle of the book there were many repetitions of other peoples observations.It was nice to read that Darwin exchanged letters with Dr. Duchene , a french neurologist and
Dr .Donders , a dutch opthalmologist . A big portion of the book builds on other naturalists observation over the globe plus Darwins own observations.
Dr .Donders , a dutch opthalmologist . A big portion of the book builds on other naturalists observation over the globe plus Darwins own observations.
March 31, 2014
In this book Darwin writes mostly about the overt expressions of emotions, not about their evolutionary function or, for that matter, what constitutes an emotion (versus sensation, feeling, affect, passion). And, at times, it's not clear if Darwin is describing an emotion itself or its expression. The value of this book, following his "Origins" and "Descent" books, is that Darwin suggests a universal innateness in certain human emotional expressions and their close tie to the non-human animal world.
Darwin opens this book by outlining three principles that explain these expressions, but his discussion was not all that understandable. His first principle is that our (animal?) ancestors voluntary actions became reinforced by habit before becoming fixed as an inherited characteristic. I didn't understand this. An emotional expression seems to be more like a byproduct of an underlying emotion that was formed by fortuitous mutation and selected by natural selection. For example, it's likely that reptiles didn't "choose" to be fearful, but those with fearful responses were able to survive and pass along this capacity and the physiological expressions that go along with it to succeeding generations. I also didn't understand the significance of Darwin's second principle of antithesis whereby "actions of a directly opposite kind, though of no use, should be unconsciously performed through habit and association, under the influence of a directly opposite sensation or emotion," and that these expressions become "hereditary through long practice." For illustration, Darwin might be referring in part to "sympathy," where we mirror certain actions that we are performing, such as moving our "jaws simultaneously with the blades of the scissors." His third principle involves clear expressions that come directly from the nervous system, independent of the will and largely independent of habit. Here Darwin appears to align himself with Spencer's argument about the "overflow of nervous energy."
Darwin's theory seems Lamarckian: Do something good long enough and it becomes inherited. His theory is strikingly similar to Spencer's 1852 critique of Alexander Bain (Darwin's book has numerous references to both). Spencer uses a Lamarck-like argument to demonstrate the development of emotions from "lower" life forms, and from the lower emotions of human "savages" who are focused only on immediate desires, to the sophisticated, cognition-infused higher emotions of "civilized" peoples. These higher-level emotions, Spencer states, then become hereditary: "We know that emotional characteristics...are hereditary; and the differences between civilized nations descended from the same stock show us the cumulative results of small modifications hereditarily transmitted." This type of argument was pre-Mendel, and we now have a significantly different view how new traits develop, genetically. Spencer's argument also stands in stark contrast to what some modern-day neuroscience says about emotions - that the primal impulses and responses in lowly reptiles, and the social emotions of mammals and primates, are very much operative in all humans, today, no matter how civilized they are. In other words, while the neo-cortex adds to the pot, the stew is essentially the same. In part, Darwin's "Expressions" book makes an argument for universal emotions and their expression, but his argument regarding their origins may not be at all accurate.
Darwin discusses "emotions and sensations" as if they are emotional reactions (fear, anger) to an outside stimulus, but elsewhere he hints that emotions are inner needs that push the self outward. He mentions that certain actions "relieve or gratify certain sensations, desires, &c" and refers to "desire or sensation," suggesting that emotions are outgoing actions and the expression of internal need (i.e., we give an emotional response to an external stimulus). I have no clue what "&c" refers to and it adds to the confusion. With his emphasis on expression versus underlying emotion itself, Darwin does not clarify that a single expression may have more than one emotional impetus. For example, ill-temper and its various expressions may be the result of chronic bodily pain, or from a perpetual anger at negative stimuli from the outside, the inability of the self to satisfy its needs and desires, or it may be just poor body chemistry.
Darwin's strongest discussion is on the expressions (blushing, shyness, shame) coming from unwanted self-attention. This was excellent. While good, and acknowledging the difficult historical context for this sort of a book, Darwin's discussion takes our insight about emotions only so far. Darwin says these expressions from unwanted attention are due to concern about what others think, but he does not indicate why this should be a concern at all. For that answer, the reader must go to Darwin's "Descent" and his discussion of our tribal nature.
Darwin opens this book by outlining three principles that explain these expressions, but his discussion was not all that understandable. His first principle is that our (animal?) ancestors voluntary actions became reinforced by habit before becoming fixed as an inherited characteristic. I didn't understand this. An emotional expression seems to be more like a byproduct of an underlying emotion that was formed by fortuitous mutation and selected by natural selection. For example, it's likely that reptiles didn't "choose" to be fearful, but those with fearful responses were able to survive and pass along this capacity and the physiological expressions that go along with it to succeeding generations. I also didn't understand the significance of Darwin's second principle of antithesis whereby "actions of a directly opposite kind, though of no use, should be unconsciously performed through habit and association, under the influence of a directly opposite sensation or emotion," and that these expressions become "hereditary through long practice." For illustration, Darwin might be referring in part to "sympathy," where we mirror certain actions that we are performing, such as moving our "jaws simultaneously with the blades of the scissors." His third principle involves clear expressions that come directly from the nervous system, independent of the will and largely independent of habit. Here Darwin appears to align himself with Spencer's argument about the "overflow of nervous energy."
Darwin's theory seems Lamarckian: Do something good long enough and it becomes inherited. His theory is strikingly similar to Spencer's 1852 critique of Alexander Bain (Darwin's book has numerous references to both). Spencer uses a Lamarck-like argument to demonstrate the development of emotions from "lower" life forms, and from the lower emotions of human "savages" who are focused only on immediate desires, to the sophisticated, cognition-infused higher emotions of "civilized" peoples. These higher-level emotions, Spencer states, then become hereditary: "We know that emotional characteristics...are hereditary; and the differences between civilized nations descended from the same stock show us the cumulative results of small modifications hereditarily transmitted." This type of argument was pre-Mendel, and we now have a significantly different view how new traits develop, genetically. Spencer's argument also stands in stark contrast to what some modern-day neuroscience says about emotions - that the primal impulses and responses in lowly reptiles, and the social emotions of mammals and primates, are very much operative in all humans, today, no matter how civilized they are. In other words, while the neo-cortex adds to the pot, the stew is essentially the same. In part, Darwin's "Expressions" book makes an argument for universal emotions and their expression, but his argument regarding their origins may not be at all accurate.
Darwin discusses "emotions and sensations" as if they are emotional reactions (fear, anger) to an outside stimulus, but elsewhere he hints that emotions are inner needs that push the self outward. He mentions that certain actions "relieve or gratify certain sensations, desires, &c" and refers to "desire or sensation," suggesting that emotions are outgoing actions and the expression of internal need (i.e., we give an emotional response to an external stimulus). I have no clue what "&c" refers to and it adds to the confusion. With his emphasis on expression versus underlying emotion itself, Darwin does not clarify that a single expression may have more than one emotional impetus. For example, ill-temper and its various expressions may be the result of chronic bodily pain, or from a perpetual anger at negative stimuli from the outside, the inability of the self to satisfy its needs and desires, or it may be just poor body chemistry.
Darwin's strongest discussion is on the expressions (blushing, shyness, shame) coming from unwanted self-attention. This was excellent. While good, and acknowledging the difficult historical context for this sort of a book, Darwin's discussion takes our insight about emotions only so far. Darwin says these expressions from unwanted attention are due to concern about what others think, but he does not indicate why this should be a concern at all. For that answer, the reader must go to Darwin's "Descent" and his discussion of our tribal nature.
September 11, 2025
It's basically a diary... from a scientist... about science... and of course with citations. Lots of it. Like, a lot. The pictures make it a lot easier to understand the dynamics of human and animals expression of their emotions.
February 7, 2026
Charles Darwin focused his attention in 'On the Origin of Species' (1859) on observations and conclusions about lower life forms (plants, insects, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, not humans). Darwin wanted to focus his readers' attention on the order, simplicity, and beauty of his Hypotheses about the Evolution of Life. He wanted to avoid distracting his readers, so in this first book, he limited his discussions regarding man and human higher faculties. Darwin deferred publishing his ‘human series’, 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex' until 1871, and 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' until 1872, largely to avoid debates regarding creationism and abolitionism.
Even though he was educated as both a physician (University of Edinburgh) and theologian (Cambridge University), Darwin, the naturalist, did not want to debate whether there was a Creator and a Divine plan. He thought those were distinct issues from his attempts to observe and describe natural laws. Darwin did not deny or support Deism, but as a scientist, he thought unifying hypotheses could be discovered that did not require the intervention of religion for many difficult questions. In his Introduction to 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals', Darwin scholar Joe Cain, tells readers that some of Darwin’s peers and reviewers had adopted a ‘middle ground’ or compromise position between evolution and creationism - perhaps the human body had evolved, but there were limits to evolution when it came to the mind, intelligence, and morality. Cain cites Charles Lyell ('Principles of Geology' – 1830-33) as an important ‘middle-grounder’ in that he supported the ideas that the earth was ancient (created over a longer time frame than seven days), and that scientists could seek uniform and constant laws (hypotheses). Cain also notes the work of Alfred Russell Wallace, a naturalist who thought evolution governed nature, but it had ‘limits’, and needed Divinity to explain the ‘higher human faculties’ of reason and morality.
Darwin also did not wish to have his evolutionary theory mired in racial issues that were being argued during the Victorian era of Imperialism. He argued that all human species were one race (monogenism) as opposed to different separate species (polygenism) – based on the biological definition of distinct species - all members of the same species can interbreed, and all human races could interbreed.
Darwin had hypothesized that the evolutionary differences between animals and man were of degree, not of kind, in 'On the Origin of Species'. He employed the same three-step strategy in both 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex', and 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' -
• Observe human-like qualities in animals
• Identify primeval examples in humans
• Narrow the differences between animals and man.
In 'The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals' (1872), Darwin described the emergence (origin, descent) of consciousness and communication. He made systematic observations of nonverbal communication of feelings or emotions, in both animals and man. He delved into the origins of language and ideas like morality and immorality, fairness and injustice, selfishness versus altruism, and the importance of these ideas in fostering collaboration via reciprocal altruism. Darwin’s three specific purposes in publishing 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' were:
• Describe the chief expressive actions of man, emphasizing habitual and involuntary means of expression,
• Describe the expressions with specific reference to the muscles and nerves (mostly in the face and eyes) used to produce these expressions of emotions, and
• Elucidate Principles (Hypotheses) that might get at the cause of these expressions.
Darwin gathered an immense quantity of observational data from a variety of different sources “… to ascertain how far particular movements of the features and gesture are really expressive of states of the mind” -
• Observing infants – Darwin’s own children and others
• Pictures of suffering patients in insane asylums
• Paintings and sculptural examples of human expression
• Pictures from French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne, who used electric shocks (galvanization) to elicit expressions by shocking different facial and orbital muscles one at a time or in combinations
• Queries sent to naturalists, missionaries, and explorers around the world
• Observations of animals in the zoo and domesticated animals
• Photographs of humans and animals – prolonged exposure times in photographic equipment of that era meant maintaining expressions long enough for a photograph to be acquired. Darwin’s book was one of the first books to include illustrative photographs.
Darwin sought the assistance of naturalists, explorers, and missionaries from around the world. He sent the following questions to observers of human populations (races, tribes, and cultures), and he acknowledged by name many who provided him with data. (listed in his Introduction):
1. Is astonishment expressed by the eyes and mouth being opened wide and the eyebrows being raised?
2. Does shame excite a blush when the skin color allows one to observe a blush? How far down the body does the blush extend?
3. When a man is indignant or defiant, does he frown, hold his body and head erect, square his shoulders, and clench his fists?
4. When considering deeply on a subject, or trying to understand a puzzle, does he frown, or wrinkle the skin below his eyelids?
5. When in low spirits, are the corners of the mouth depressed, and the inner corner of the eyelids raised by the muscle the French call the ‘grief muscle’? – The eyebrow in this state becomes slightly oblique, with a little swelling at the inner end, and the forehead is transversely wrinkled in the middle part, but not across the whole breadth as when the eyebrows are raised in surprise.
6. When in good spirits, do the eyes sparkle, with the skin a little wrinkled around and under them, and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners?
7. When a man sneers or snarls at another, is the corner of the upper lip over the canine or eye tooth raised on the side facing the man whom he addresses?
8. Can a dogged or obstinate expression be recognized, which is chiefly recognized by the mouth being firmly closed, a lowering brow, and a slight frown?
9. Is contempt expressed by a slight protrusion of the lips, and by turning up the nose with slight expiration?
10. Is disgust shown by the lower lip turned down, the upper lip slightly raised, with a sudden expiration, something like incipient vomiting, or like something to spit out of the mouth?
11. Is extreme fear expressed in the same general manner as with Europeans?
12. Is laughter ever carried to the extreme as to bring tears to the eyes?
13. When a man wishes to show that he cannot prevent something being done, or cannot himself do something (helplessness), does he shrug his shoulders, turn inward his elbows, extend outward his hands and open the palms, with the eyebrows raised?
14. Do the children when sulky, pout or greatly protrude their lips?
15. Can guilty, sly, or jealous expressions be recognized?
16. Is the head nodded vertically in affirmation, and shaken laterally in negation?
From these diverse types of evidence, Darwin laid out three principles of human expression of emotions:
• Movements which are voluntarily performed in the pursuit of some definite objective (serviceable in gratifying some desire) are often repeated until they become Habits;
• Antithesis – if certain actions become habitual in expressing an emotion, the opposite emotion is likely to be expressed with an opposite action (nodding affirmation up and down versus signaling negation by side to side head nodding;
• Direct action of the nervous system (reflex) can be independent of will and habit; for example, closing the eyes with a sudden sneeze.
Darwin emphasized the finding of similar expressions among a wide variety of humans from all over the world. He felt this provided support for the ‘unity of human race’, and the innate origins of expressions, such as joining uplifted hands as if in prayer or giving thanks; kissing as a mark of affection; and shrugging the shoulders as a sign of impotence or helplessness.
Darwin did not try to answer every question, and he acknowledged his limitations and errors. I agree with Joe Cain, who wrote in his Introduction to 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals', that Darwin’s books are not meant to be read straight through. They are encyclopedic collections of observations to be used primarily as a reference. However, 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' is much more than a textbook. I learned a lot, particularly by staring at the illustrations of humans and animals expressing their feelings. I strongly recommend 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals'.
After a lifetime of study and three amazing books, Charles Darwin did not leave me shrugging my shoulders, blushing, pouting, clenching my fists, or snarling. Rather, he brought a smile to my face and a twinkle to my eyes.
Even though he was educated as both a physician (University of Edinburgh) and theologian (Cambridge University), Darwin, the naturalist, did not want to debate whether there was a Creator and a Divine plan. He thought those were distinct issues from his attempts to observe and describe natural laws. Darwin did not deny or support Deism, but as a scientist, he thought unifying hypotheses could be discovered that did not require the intervention of religion for many difficult questions. In his Introduction to 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals', Darwin scholar Joe Cain, tells readers that some of Darwin’s peers and reviewers had adopted a ‘middle ground’ or compromise position between evolution and creationism - perhaps the human body had evolved, but there were limits to evolution when it came to the mind, intelligence, and morality. Cain cites Charles Lyell ('Principles of Geology' – 1830-33) as an important ‘middle-grounder’ in that he supported the ideas that the earth was ancient (created over a longer time frame than seven days), and that scientists could seek uniform and constant laws (hypotheses). Cain also notes the work of Alfred Russell Wallace, a naturalist who thought evolution governed nature, but it had ‘limits’, and needed Divinity to explain the ‘higher human faculties’ of reason and morality.
Darwin also did not wish to have his evolutionary theory mired in racial issues that were being argued during the Victorian era of Imperialism. He argued that all human species were one race (monogenism) as opposed to different separate species (polygenism) – based on the biological definition of distinct species - all members of the same species can interbreed, and all human races could interbreed.
Darwin had hypothesized that the evolutionary differences between animals and man were of degree, not of kind, in 'On the Origin of Species'. He employed the same three-step strategy in both 'The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex', and 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' -
• Observe human-like qualities in animals
• Identify primeval examples in humans
• Narrow the differences between animals and man.
In 'The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals' (1872), Darwin described the emergence (origin, descent) of consciousness and communication. He made systematic observations of nonverbal communication of feelings or emotions, in both animals and man. He delved into the origins of language and ideas like morality and immorality, fairness and injustice, selfishness versus altruism, and the importance of these ideas in fostering collaboration via reciprocal altruism. Darwin’s three specific purposes in publishing 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' were:
• Describe the chief expressive actions of man, emphasizing habitual and involuntary means of expression,
• Describe the expressions with specific reference to the muscles and nerves (mostly in the face and eyes) used to produce these expressions of emotions, and
• Elucidate Principles (Hypotheses) that might get at the cause of these expressions.
Darwin gathered an immense quantity of observational data from a variety of different sources “… to ascertain how far particular movements of the features and gesture are really expressive of states of the mind” -
• Observing infants – Darwin’s own children and others
• Pictures of suffering patients in insane asylums
• Paintings and sculptural examples of human expression
• Pictures from French neurologist, Guillaume Duchenne, who used electric shocks (galvanization) to elicit expressions by shocking different facial and orbital muscles one at a time or in combinations
• Queries sent to naturalists, missionaries, and explorers around the world
• Observations of animals in the zoo and domesticated animals
• Photographs of humans and animals – prolonged exposure times in photographic equipment of that era meant maintaining expressions long enough for a photograph to be acquired. Darwin’s book was one of the first books to include illustrative photographs.
Darwin sought the assistance of naturalists, explorers, and missionaries from around the world. He sent the following questions to observers of human populations (races, tribes, and cultures), and he acknowledged by name many who provided him with data. (listed in his Introduction):
1. Is astonishment expressed by the eyes and mouth being opened wide and the eyebrows being raised?
2. Does shame excite a blush when the skin color allows one to observe a blush? How far down the body does the blush extend?
3. When a man is indignant or defiant, does he frown, hold his body and head erect, square his shoulders, and clench his fists?
4. When considering deeply on a subject, or trying to understand a puzzle, does he frown, or wrinkle the skin below his eyelids?
5. When in low spirits, are the corners of the mouth depressed, and the inner corner of the eyelids raised by the muscle the French call the ‘grief muscle’? – The eyebrow in this state becomes slightly oblique, with a little swelling at the inner end, and the forehead is transversely wrinkled in the middle part, but not across the whole breadth as when the eyebrows are raised in surprise.
6. When in good spirits, do the eyes sparkle, with the skin a little wrinkled around and under them, and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners?
7. When a man sneers or snarls at another, is the corner of the upper lip over the canine or eye tooth raised on the side facing the man whom he addresses?
8. Can a dogged or obstinate expression be recognized, which is chiefly recognized by the mouth being firmly closed, a lowering brow, and a slight frown?
9. Is contempt expressed by a slight protrusion of the lips, and by turning up the nose with slight expiration?
10. Is disgust shown by the lower lip turned down, the upper lip slightly raised, with a sudden expiration, something like incipient vomiting, or like something to spit out of the mouth?
11. Is extreme fear expressed in the same general manner as with Europeans?
12. Is laughter ever carried to the extreme as to bring tears to the eyes?
13. When a man wishes to show that he cannot prevent something being done, or cannot himself do something (helplessness), does he shrug his shoulders, turn inward his elbows, extend outward his hands and open the palms, with the eyebrows raised?
14. Do the children when sulky, pout or greatly protrude their lips?
15. Can guilty, sly, or jealous expressions be recognized?
16. Is the head nodded vertically in affirmation, and shaken laterally in negation?
From these diverse types of evidence, Darwin laid out three principles of human expression of emotions:
• Movements which are voluntarily performed in the pursuit of some definite objective (serviceable in gratifying some desire) are often repeated until they become Habits;
• Antithesis – if certain actions become habitual in expressing an emotion, the opposite emotion is likely to be expressed with an opposite action (nodding affirmation up and down versus signaling negation by side to side head nodding;
• Direct action of the nervous system (reflex) can be independent of will and habit; for example, closing the eyes with a sudden sneeze.
Darwin emphasized the finding of similar expressions among a wide variety of humans from all over the world. He felt this provided support for the ‘unity of human race’, and the innate origins of expressions, such as joining uplifted hands as if in prayer or giving thanks; kissing as a mark of affection; and shrugging the shoulders as a sign of impotence or helplessness.
Darwin did not try to answer every question, and he acknowledged his limitations and errors. I agree with Joe Cain, who wrote in his Introduction to 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals', that Darwin’s books are not meant to be read straight through. They are encyclopedic collections of observations to be used primarily as a reference. However, 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals' is much more than a textbook. I learned a lot, particularly by staring at the illustrations of humans and animals expressing their feelings. I strongly recommend 'The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals'.
After a lifetime of study and three amazing books, Charles Darwin did not leave me shrugging my shoulders, blushing, pouting, clenching my fists, or snarling. Rather, he brought a smile to my face and a twinkle to my eyes.
December 1, 2022
Many detailed observations of physiological emotional expressions, though there is much still unknown in the book, especially of psychological expressions. I dont know why i read this one since there must be newer data on this subject but it was satisfying to read.
April 26, 2020
ينمّ هذا الكتاب عن القدرة الفائقة لدى البريطاني تشارلز داروين على دقة الملاحظة واعتماده على سبل البحث العلمي في تقديم هذه الدراسة الضخمة التي قدمها للبشرية من خلال هذا العنوان. وكانت ترجمة هذا الكتاب بمستوى اللغة الرائع قد خلق حيلولةً بيني وبين الملل الذي يعتري أغلب القراء إزاء بعض الكتب التي تكون مادتها علمية بحتة، رغم أنه صرح في مقدمته -أي داروين- بأن دراسة التعبير أمر شائك وبالغ الصعوبة، ذلك لأن الحركات غالبًا ما تكون طفيفة جدًا وذات طبيعة عابرة، ومن الخطأ أن نعتمد على مخيّلتنا في دراسة هذا الجانب العميق.
أثناء قراءة هذا الكتاب ستشعر أنك ممسوس، لأنك وبشكلٍ لا إرادي سوف تجرب كل التعابير والإيماءات -أو لنقل أغلبها- التي تطرق لها المؤلف في كتابه، سترفع حاجبيك وتزم شفتيك، وتهزّ كتفيك وترخي عضلات وجهك كيفما اتفق(:
ألحق داروين كتابه بفصلٍ أخير يبين فيه المنهج الذي اتخذه في تأليف الكتاب والذي يعتمد على ثلاثة مبادئ وهي: المبدأ الأول العادات المقرونة بالفائدة والمبدأ الثاني: نقيض العادة أو الحركات المضادة ويعني بذلك تأثير الحوافز المعاكسة والمبدأ الثالث: الفعاليات الناتجة عن الجهاز العصبي "اللاإرادية". ففي جميع الفصول يحتكم المؤلف إلى هذه المبادئ، ويحاول إثبات المقاربات بين إيماءات البشر وتشابهها مع الإنسان الأدنى، أو القرود. من خلال ملاحظاته الشخصية التي اكتسبها في أسفاره، أو حتى مراقبة أطفاله ومن خلال حياته اليومية ودراسته للسلوكيات، هذا بالإضافة إلى ملاحظات أقرانه في مختلف البلدان. ولعل أكثر من تكرر اسمه في الكتاب هو الفيلسوف البريطاني هربرت سبنسر الذي رسخ مفاهيم نظرية الارتقاء.
في المجمل: استفدت من الكتاب أكثر مما كنت أتوقع، لا سيما أني كنت ولا أزال مأخوذًا بلغة الجسد وكنت أقتنع بأن التعبيرات البشرية الحركيّة الصامتة، المبنية على الانفعالات، هي بمثابة لغة مستقلة غير منطوقة، وهذا الكتاب أكد قناعتي.
@y22s3
أثناء قراءة هذا الكتاب ستشعر أنك ممسوس، لأنك وبشكلٍ لا إرادي سوف تجرب كل التعابير والإيماءات -أو لنقل أغلبها- التي تطرق لها المؤلف في كتابه، سترفع حاجبيك وتزم شفتيك، وتهزّ كتفيك وترخي عضلات وجهك كيفما اتفق(:
ألحق داروين كتابه بفصلٍ أخير يبين فيه المنهج الذي اتخذه في تأليف الكتاب والذي يعتمد على ثلاثة مبادئ وهي: المبدأ الأول العادات المقرونة بالفائدة والمبدأ الثاني: نقيض العادة أو الحركات المضادة ويعني بذلك تأثير الحوافز المعاكسة والمبدأ الثالث: الفعاليات الناتجة عن الجهاز العصبي "اللاإرادية". ففي جميع الفصول يحتكم المؤلف إلى هذه المبادئ، ويحاول إثبات المقاربات بين إيماءات البشر وتشابهها مع الإنسان الأدنى، أو القرود. من خلال ملاحظاته الشخصية التي اكتسبها في أسفاره، أو حتى مراقبة أطفاله ومن خلال حياته اليومية ودراسته للسلوكيات، هذا بالإضافة إلى ملاحظات أقرانه في مختلف البلدان. ولعل أكثر من تكرر اسمه في الكتاب هو الفيلسوف البريطاني هربرت سبنسر الذي رسخ مفاهيم نظرية الارتقاء.
في المجمل: استفدت من الكتاب أكثر مما كنت أتوقع، لا سيما أني كنت ولا أزال مأخوذًا بلغة الجسد وكنت أقتنع بأن التعبيرات البشرية الحركيّة الصامتة، المبنية على الانفعالات، هي بمثابة لغة مستقلة غير منطوقة، وهذا الكتاب أكد قناعتي.
@y22s3
January 18, 2023
Actions of all kinds, if regularly accompanying any state of the mind, are at once recognised as expressive. To understand, as far as is possible, the source or origin of the various expressions which may be hourly seen on the faces of the men around us, not to mention our domesticated animals, ought to possess much interest for us. Yet assuredly we can sympathize with those for whom we feel no affection. Even the simulation of an emotion tends to arouse it in our minds.
The movements of expression give vividness and energy to our spoken words. We may actually behold the expression changing in an unmistakable manner in a man or animal, and yet be quite unable, to analyse the nature of the change. They reveal the thoughts and intentions of others more truly than do words, which may be falsified.
He who admits on general grounds that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved, will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light. Conventional expressions or gestures, acquired by the individual during early life, would probably have differed in the different races, in the same manner as do their languages.
The three Principles on expression of emotion classified by Darwin are as follows:
I. The principle of serviceable associated Habits.
II. The principle of Antithesis.
III. The principle of actions due to the constitution of the Nervous System, independently from the first of the Will, and independently to a certain extent of Habit.
The far greater number of the movements of expression, and all the more important ones, are, as we have seen, innate or inherited; and such cannot be said to depend on the will of the individual. We shall, also, consider another proposition included in our first Principle ; namely, that the checking of one habitual movement sometimes requires other slight movements; these latter serving as a means of expression.
Respiration is partly voluntary, but mainly reflex, and is performed in the most natural and best manner without the interference of the will. The love between the opposite sexes is widely different from maternal love; and when lovers meet, we know that their hearts beat quickly, their breathing is hurried, and their faces flush ; for this love is not inactive like that of a mother for her infant. In like manner those muscles of the face which are least obedient to the will, will sometimes alone betray a slight and passing emotion. The glands again are wholly independent of the will, and a man suffering from grief may command his features, but cannot always prevent the tears from coming into his eyes.
The whole expression of a man in good spirits is exactly the opposite of that of one suffering from sorrow. A bright and sparkling eye is as characteristic of a pleased or amused state of mind, as is the retraction of the corners of the mouth and upper lip with the wrinkles thus produced.
In considering the mode in which vocal utterances express emotion, we are naturally led to inquire into the cause of what is called " expression" in music. Music often produces another peculiar effect. We know that every strong sensation, emotion, or excitement—extreme pain, rage, terror, joy, or the passion of love—all have a special tendency to cause the muscles to tremble; and the thrill or slight shiver which runs down the backbone and limbs of many persons when they are powerfully affected by music, seems to bear the same relation to the above trembling of the body, as a slight suffusion of tears from the power of music does to weeping from any strong and real emotion.
It is known that the involuntary movements of the heart are affected if close attention be paid to them. It does not seem possible that any animal, until its mental powers had been developed to an equal or nearly equal degree with those of man, would have closely considered and been sensitive about its own personal appearance. Therefore we may conclude that blushing originated at a very late period in the long line of our descent.
From the various facts just alluded to, and given in the course of this volume, it follows that, if the structure of our organs of respiration and circulation had differed in only a slight degree from the state in which they now exist, most of our expressions would have been wonderfully different. Thus it is shown that expression in itself, or the language of the emotions, as it has sometimes been called, is certainly of importance for the welfare of mankind.
Actions, which were at first voluntary, soon become habitual, and at last hereditary, and may then be performed even in opposition to the will. Such words as that "certain movements serve as a means of expression" are apt to mislead, as they imply that this was their primary purpose or object.
Darwin have endeavoured to show in considerable detail that all the chief expressions exhibited by man are the same throughout the world. This fact is interesting, as it affords a new argument in favour of the several races being descended from a single parent-stock, which must have been almost completely human in structure, and to a large extent in mind, before the period at which the races diverged from each other. No doubt similar structures, adapted for the same purpose, have often been independently acquired through variation and natural selection by distinct species; but this view will not explain close similarity between distinct species in a multitude of unimportant details.
All on Darwin's words: from these several causes, we may conclude that the philosophy of our subject has well deserved the attention which it has already received from several excellent observers, and that it deserves still further attention, especially from any able physiologist.
Some general inqiries below by Charles Darwin to various person has a great assistance on the exploration about origin and development of expression of emotion:
(1.) Is astonishment expressed by the eyes and mouth being opened wide, and by the eyebrows being raised ?
(2.) Does shame excite a blush when the colour of the skin allows it to be visible? and especially how low down the body does the blush extend ?
(3.) When a man is indignant or defiant does he frown, hold his body and head erect, square his shoulders and clench his fists ?
(4.) When considering deeply on any subject, or trying to understand any puzzle, does he frown, or wrinkle the skin beneath the lower eyelids ?
(5.) When in low spirits, are the corners of the mouth depressed, and the inner corner of the eyebrows raised by that muscle which the French call the " Grief muscle " ? The eyebrow in this state becomes slightly oblique, with a little swelling at the inner end; and the forehead is transversely wrinkled in the middle part, but not across the whole breadth, as when the eyebrows are raised in surprise.
(6.) When in good spirits do the eyes sparkle, with the skin a little wrinkled round and under them, and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners ?
(7.) When a man sneers or snarls at another, is the corner of the upper lip over the canine or eye tooth raised on the side facing the man whom he addresses ?
(8.) Can a dogged or obstinate expression be recognized, which is chiefly shown by the mouth being firmly closed, a lowering brow and a slight frown ?
(9.) Is contempt expressed by a slight protrusion of the lips and by turning up the nose, with a slight expiration ?
(10.) Is disgust shown by the lower lip being turned down, the upper lip slightly raised, with a sudden expiration, something like incipient vomiting, or like something spit out of the mouth ?
(11.) Is extreme fear expressed in the same general manner as with Europeans?
(12.) Is laughter ever carried to such an extreme as to bring tears into the eyes?
(13.) When a man wishes to show that he cannot prevent something being done, or cannot himself do something, does he shrug his shoulders, turn inwards his elbows, extend outwards his hands and open the palms; with the eyebrows raised?
(14.) Do the children when sulky, pout or greatly protrude the lips?
(15.) Can guilty, or sly, or jealous expressions be recognized? though I know not how these can be defined.
(16.) Is the head nodded vertically in affirmation, and shaken laterally in negation?
The movements of expression give vividness and energy to our spoken words. We may actually behold the expression changing in an unmistakable manner in a man or animal, and yet be quite unable, to analyse the nature of the change. They reveal the thoughts and intentions of others more truly than do words, which may be falsified.
He who admits on general grounds that the structure and habits of all animals have been gradually evolved, will look at the whole subject of Expression in a new and interesting light. Conventional expressions or gestures, acquired by the individual during early life, would probably have differed in the different races, in the same manner as do their languages.
The three Principles on expression of emotion classified by Darwin are as follows:
I. The principle of serviceable associated Habits.
II. The principle of Antithesis.
III. The principle of actions due to the constitution of the Nervous System, independently from the first of the Will, and independently to a certain extent of Habit.
The far greater number of the movements of expression, and all the more important ones, are, as we have seen, innate or inherited; and such cannot be said to depend on the will of the individual. We shall, also, consider another proposition included in our first Principle ; namely, that the checking of one habitual movement sometimes requires other slight movements; these latter serving as a means of expression.
Respiration is partly voluntary, but mainly reflex, and is performed in the most natural and best manner without the interference of the will. The love between the opposite sexes is widely different from maternal love; and when lovers meet, we know that their hearts beat quickly, their breathing is hurried, and their faces flush ; for this love is not inactive like that of a mother for her infant. In like manner those muscles of the face which are least obedient to the will, will sometimes alone betray a slight and passing emotion. The glands again are wholly independent of the will, and a man suffering from grief may command his features, but cannot always prevent the tears from coming into his eyes.
The whole expression of a man in good spirits is exactly the opposite of that of one suffering from sorrow. A bright and sparkling eye is as characteristic of a pleased or amused state of mind, as is the retraction of the corners of the mouth and upper lip with the wrinkles thus produced.
In considering the mode in which vocal utterances express emotion, we are naturally led to inquire into the cause of what is called " expression" in music. Music often produces another peculiar effect. We know that every strong sensation, emotion, or excitement—extreme pain, rage, terror, joy, or the passion of love—all have a special tendency to cause the muscles to tremble; and the thrill or slight shiver which runs down the backbone and limbs of many persons when they are powerfully affected by music, seems to bear the same relation to the above trembling of the body, as a slight suffusion of tears from the power of music does to weeping from any strong and real emotion.
It is known that the involuntary movements of the heart are affected if close attention be paid to them. It does not seem possible that any animal, until its mental powers had been developed to an equal or nearly equal degree with those of man, would have closely considered and been sensitive about its own personal appearance. Therefore we may conclude that blushing originated at a very late period in the long line of our descent.
From the various facts just alluded to, and given in the course of this volume, it follows that, if the structure of our organs of respiration and circulation had differed in only a slight degree from the state in which they now exist, most of our expressions would have been wonderfully different. Thus it is shown that expression in itself, or the language of the emotions, as it has sometimes been called, is certainly of importance for the welfare of mankind.
Actions, which were at first voluntary, soon become habitual, and at last hereditary, and may then be performed even in opposition to the will. Such words as that "certain movements serve as a means of expression" are apt to mislead, as they imply that this was their primary purpose or object.
Darwin have endeavoured to show in considerable detail that all the chief expressions exhibited by man are the same throughout the world. This fact is interesting, as it affords a new argument in favour of the several races being descended from a single parent-stock, which must have been almost completely human in structure, and to a large extent in mind, before the period at which the races diverged from each other. No doubt similar structures, adapted for the same purpose, have often been independently acquired through variation and natural selection by distinct species; but this view will not explain close similarity between distinct species in a multitude of unimportant details.
All on Darwin's words: from these several causes, we may conclude that the philosophy of our subject has well deserved the attention which it has already received from several excellent observers, and that it deserves still further attention, especially from any able physiologist.
Some general inqiries below by Charles Darwin to various person has a great assistance on the exploration about origin and development of expression of emotion:
(1.) Is astonishment expressed by the eyes and mouth being opened wide, and by the eyebrows being raised ?
(2.) Does shame excite a blush when the colour of the skin allows it to be visible? and especially how low down the body does the blush extend ?
(3.) When a man is indignant or defiant does he frown, hold his body and head erect, square his shoulders and clench his fists ?
(4.) When considering deeply on any subject, or trying to understand any puzzle, does he frown, or wrinkle the skin beneath the lower eyelids ?
(5.) When in low spirits, are the corners of the mouth depressed, and the inner corner of the eyebrows raised by that muscle which the French call the " Grief muscle " ? The eyebrow in this state becomes slightly oblique, with a little swelling at the inner end; and the forehead is transversely wrinkled in the middle part, but not across the whole breadth, as when the eyebrows are raised in surprise.
(6.) When in good spirits do the eyes sparkle, with the skin a little wrinkled round and under them, and with the mouth a little drawn back at the corners ?
(7.) When a man sneers or snarls at another, is the corner of the upper lip over the canine or eye tooth raised on the side facing the man whom he addresses ?
(8.) Can a dogged or obstinate expression be recognized, which is chiefly shown by the mouth being firmly closed, a lowering brow and a slight frown ?
(9.) Is contempt expressed by a slight protrusion of the lips and by turning up the nose, with a slight expiration ?
(10.) Is disgust shown by the lower lip being turned down, the upper lip slightly raised, with a sudden expiration, something like incipient vomiting, or like something spit out of the mouth ?
(11.) Is extreme fear expressed in the same general manner as with Europeans?
(12.) Is laughter ever carried to such an extreme as to bring tears into the eyes?
(13.) When a man wishes to show that he cannot prevent something being done, or cannot himself do something, does he shrug his shoulders, turn inwards his elbows, extend outwards his hands and open the palms; with the eyebrows raised?
(14.) Do the children when sulky, pout or greatly protrude the lips?
(15.) Can guilty, or sly, or jealous expressions be recognized? though I know not how these can be defined.
(16.) Is the head nodded vertically in affirmation, and shaken laterally in negation?
February 6, 2025
I started reading this book for a paper I was working on a specific aspect of the human social and epistemic life—namely, the epistemology of disgust.
This book came before its time. It is probably the only book out there that has given full attention to the study of emotions in man and animals—how those emotions arise and what gives rise to those emotions.
P.S.: I read the Pheonix Science Series edition (published in 1965 by the University of Chicago Press).
This book came before its time. It is probably the only book out there that has given full attention to the study of emotions in man and animals—how those emotions arise and what gives rise to those emotions.
P.S.: I read the Pheonix Science Series edition (published in 1965 by the University of Chicago Press).
July 27, 2018
“Le créateur n’a donc pas eu à se préoccuper ici des besoins de la mécanique; il a pu, selon sa sagesse,...par une divine fantaisie, mettre en action tel ou tel muscle, un seul ou plusieurs muscles à la fois, lorsqu’il a voulu que les signes caractéristiques des passions, même les plus fugaces, fussent écrits passagèrement sur le face de l’homme. Ce langage de la physionomie une fois crée, il lui a suffi, pour le rendre universel et immuable, de donner à tout être humain la faculté instinctive d’exprimer toujours ses sentiments par la contraction des mêmes muscles.”
As it was the quote by Dr. Duchenne written in the introduction by Darwin. One can't refrain oneself but gasped at the ingeniousness of our expressions, which seemed to be so mediocre and innate that we've neglect how such complexity are inherited from centuries of evolution. Our expressions are of such importance because of its universality that never fails to convey the states of mind so unintentionally. In this book it endeavors in tracing back the primal origins behind our behaviors, and where the art and science intersected.
Even though it is considered as a scientific paper when this is published in 1872, in our modern days this could only be classified as a journal in the history of human expression, many proofs are from his daily observation or depiction of travelers to back up his theory. It doesn't analyze the invigoration of muscles from anatomical level but rather more on the hereditary cause of habitual movements, therefore rendered the book very readable for non-professionals. But it is still interesting to see different interpretation on both congeniality and subconscious expression, that later comes to be the symbolic manner of that certain emotion. The book more often extract verses from classic literature into his details of portrayal, like Shakespeare or Homer, thus showed from what perspective he wrote this book.
There’s some interesting points that I wanted to raise. First with Darwin's interpretation of devotion,
"As devotion is, in some degree, related to affection, though mainly consisting of reverence, often combined with fear, the expression of this state of mind may here be briefly noticed... Devotion is chiefly expressed by the face being directed towards the heavens, with the eyeballs upturned. Sir C. Bell remarks that, at the approach of sleep, or of a fainting-fit, or of death, the pupils are drawn upwards and inwards;... With babies, whilst sucking their mother's breast, this movement of the eyeballs often gives to them an absurd appearance of ecstatic delight;... and here it may be clearly perceived that a struggle is going on against the position naturally assumed during sleep. As the eyes are often turned up in prayer, without the mind being so much absorbed in thought as to approach to the unconsciousness of sleep, the movement is probably a conventional one-- the result of the common belief that Heaven, the source of Divine power to which we pray, is seated above us."
A humble kneeling posture, with the hands upturned and palms joined, which is a accustomed position for prayer, actually resonated the submission of a slave as having his hands tied. There's no doubt in how our behavior implicitly tells of our history and values. It therefore concludes what religion is, a mystic unconsciousness that closes all external sense, that dwell oneself into the imaginary presence of an superior ideal, a fantasy that blinded us from the all blemish and ugliness. Religion is a kind of beauty, it is fear and submission, created out of contradictions. Even a posture that’s characteristic of a religious dedication echoed of biological and historical means. In terms of portraiture, having sufficient knowledge on behavioural psychology not only built depth to the appreciation of beauty, both on a canvas or a breathing thing, but also an objective understanding of humanity. Maybe humanity, and who we truly are, are a mix of corporeal desire and an image created out of social norms and culture.
Another part of a subconscious expression is of the liberation of nerve-force. It is the essence of the whole book. Emotion and behaviour are reciprocal. The existence of an emotion is the motivation to urge for action. Therefore emotion must finds itself to an impulsion of muscle initiation, a relief of that push for change that finds itself so unintentionally an expression, a manifestation. The relationship between mental and physical are tantamount. The mental exists to save the physical from death, an indication of life. Darwin shares the example of a dog,
“When a dog approaches a strange dog or man in a savage or hostile frame of mind be walks upright and very stiffly; his head is slightly raised, or not much lowered; the tail is held erect, and quite rigid; the hairs bristle, especially along the neck and back; the pricked ears are directed forwards, and the eyes have a fixed stare. These actions, as will hereafter be explained, follow from the dog's intention to attack his enemy, and are thus to a large extent intelligible. As he prepares to spring with a savage growl on his enemy, the canine teeth are uncovered, and the ears are pressed close backwards on the head;... Let us now suppose that the dog suddenly discovers that the man he is approaching, is not a stranger, but his master; and let it be observed how completely and instantaneously his whole bearing is reversed. Instead of walking upright, the body sinks downwards or even crouches, and is thrown into flexuous movements; his tail, instead of being held stiff and upright, is lowered and wagged from side to side; his hair instantly becomes smooth; his ears are depressed and drawn backwards, but not closely to the head; and his lips hang loosely. From the drawing back of the ears, the eyelids become elongated, and the eyes no longer appear round and staring. It should be added that the animal is at such times in an excited condition from joy;... They are explicable, as far as I can see, solely from being in complete opposition or antithesis to the attitude and movements which, from intelligible causes, are assumed when a dog intends to fight, and which consequently are expressive of anger.”
Some countenance are appeared with an intelligible cause to be ready to encounter attacks. But as it seems to be, some actions serve no purpose of fleeing from imminent danger. These emotions that exerted the power for action, which in turn symbolise life, are much more bounded to physicality than we thought. Some are merely antithetical invigoration as these emotion find a way for liberation.
Despite how vague or inaccurate is some of his estimation, it’s still a detailed inspection on behaviour and emotion. I didn’t fully comprehend all his writings therefore it may need a second read, though I’m not sure if it is worth going through.
As it was the quote by Dr. Duchenne written in the introduction by Darwin. One can't refrain oneself but gasped at the ingeniousness of our expressions, which seemed to be so mediocre and innate that we've neglect how such complexity are inherited from centuries of evolution. Our expressions are of such importance because of its universality that never fails to convey the states of mind so unintentionally. In this book it endeavors in tracing back the primal origins behind our behaviors, and where the art and science intersected.
Even though it is considered as a scientific paper when this is published in 1872, in our modern days this could only be classified as a journal in the history of human expression, many proofs are from his daily observation or depiction of travelers to back up his theory. It doesn't analyze the invigoration of muscles from anatomical level but rather more on the hereditary cause of habitual movements, therefore rendered the book very readable for non-professionals. But it is still interesting to see different interpretation on both congeniality and subconscious expression, that later comes to be the symbolic manner of that certain emotion. The book more often extract verses from classic literature into his details of portrayal, like Shakespeare or Homer, thus showed from what perspective he wrote this book.
There’s some interesting points that I wanted to raise. First with Darwin's interpretation of devotion,
"As devotion is, in some degree, related to affection, though mainly consisting of reverence, often combined with fear, the expression of this state of mind may here be briefly noticed... Devotion is chiefly expressed by the face being directed towards the heavens, with the eyeballs upturned. Sir C. Bell remarks that, at the approach of sleep, or of a fainting-fit, or of death, the pupils are drawn upwards and inwards;... With babies, whilst sucking their mother's breast, this movement of the eyeballs often gives to them an absurd appearance of ecstatic delight;... and here it may be clearly perceived that a struggle is going on against the position naturally assumed during sleep. As the eyes are often turned up in prayer, without the mind being so much absorbed in thought as to approach to the unconsciousness of sleep, the movement is probably a conventional one-- the result of the common belief that Heaven, the source of Divine power to which we pray, is seated above us."
A humble kneeling posture, with the hands upturned and palms joined, which is a accustomed position for prayer, actually resonated the submission of a slave as having his hands tied. There's no doubt in how our behavior implicitly tells of our history and values. It therefore concludes what religion is, a mystic unconsciousness that closes all external sense, that dwell oneself into the imaginary presence of an superior ideal, a fantasy that blinded us from the all blemish and ugliness. Religion is a kind of beauty, it is fear and submission, created out of contradictions. Even a posture that’s characteristic of a religious dedication echoed of biological and historical means. In terms of portraiture, having sufficient knowledge on behavioural psychology not only built depth to the appreciation of beauty, both on a canvas or a breathing thing, but also an objective understanding of humanity. Maybe humanity, and who we truly are, are a mix of corporeal desire and an image created out of social norms and culture.
Another part of a subconscious expression is of the liberation of nerve-force. It is the essence of the whole book. Emotion and behaviour are reciprocal. The existence of an emotion is the motivation to urge for action. Therefore emotion must finds itself to an impulsion of muscle initiation, a relief of that push for change that finds itself so unintentionally an expression, a manifestation. The relationship between mental and physical are tantamount. The mental exists to save the physical from death, an indication of life. Darwin shares the example of a dog,
“When a dog approaches a strange dog or man in a savage or hostile frame of mind be walks upright and very stiffly; his head is slightly raised, or not much lowered; the tail is held erect, and quite rigid; the hairs bristle, especially along the neck and back; the pricked ears are directed forwards, and the eyes have a fixed stare. These actions, as will hereafter be explained, follow from the dog's intention to attack his enemy, and are thus to a large extent intelligible. As he prepares to spring with a savage growl on his enemy, the canine teeth are uncovered, and the ears are pressed close backwards on the head;... Let us now suppose that the dog suddenly discovers that the man he is approaching, is not a stranger, but his master; and let it be observed how completely and instantaneously his whole bearing is reversed. Instead of walking upright, the body sinks downwards or even crouches, and is thrown into flexuous movements; his tail, instead of being held stiff and upright, is lowered and wagged from side to side; his hair instantly becomes smooth; his ears are depressed and drawn backwards, but not closely to the head; and his lips hang loosely. From the drawing back of the ears, the eyelids become elongated, and the eyes no longer appear round and staring. It should be added that the animal is at such times in an excited condition from joy;... They are explicable, as far as I can see, solely from being in complete opposition or antithesis to the attitude and movements which, from intelligible causes, are assumed when a dog intends to fight, and which consequently are expressive of anger.”
Some countenance are appeared with an intelligible cause to be ready to encounter attacks. But as it seems to be, some actions serve no purpose of fleeing from imminent danger. These emotions that exerted the power for action, which in turn symbolise life, are much more bounded to physicality than we thought. Some are merely antithetical invigoration as these emotion find a way for liberation.
Despite how vague or inaccurate is some of his estimation, it’s still a detailed inspection on behaviour and emotion. I didn’t fully comprehend all his writings therefore it may need a second read, though I’m not sure if it is worth going through.
January 16, 2012
When presented the theory of evolution, Darwin's contemporaries were willing to agree with it up to a point, but many people still wanted to believe that humans were a special case (uniquely created by God), much too advanced intellectually and morally to be related to the lower animals; others were upset that the theory said that Europeans were related to races they considered savage. Darwin wrote this book, as well as "Descent of Man," to demonstrate the similarities in behavior between man and the animals, and among the various races of man.
The book certainly succeeds in its purpose; whether some of Darwin's ideas about the origins of specific gestures and facial expressions have been borne out by subsequent experiment and observation, I don't know.
The last chapter but one includes a long discourse on blushing, which really interested Darwin as an evolutionary question. As an involuntary reaction to shyness, or positive or negative attention from others, where does blushing come from? Very fascinating!
The book certainly succeeds in its purpose; whether some of Darwin's ideas about the origins of specific gestures and facial expressions have been borne out by subsequent experiment and observation, I don't know.
The last chapter but one includes a long discourse on blushing, which really interested Darwin as an evolutionary question. As an involuntary reaction to shyness, or positive or negative attention from others, where does blushing come from? Very fascinating!
March 21, 2014
For everybody, Darwin is only associated wit the theory of évolution. By this book, the last one, he is also one of the father of éthology, the science of animal comportment.
He defines 6 elementary feelings which are for him universal in the animal kingdom. Things evolved. There are now computing tools to model the feelings. The eyebrow plays a major role in this expression. Darwin had noted its relative immobility to the chimpanzee. According to Popper, it would contradict the theory.
We know recently that the muscles of eyebrows are included in a wide fibrous ligament. It limits the mobility of muscles. Thus the chimpanzee can not mobilize its eyebrows a lot.
Darwin was right.
He defines 6 elementary feelings which are for him universal in the animal kingdom. Things evolved. There are now computing tools to model the feelings. The eyebrow plays a major role in this expression. Darwin had noted its relative immobility to the chimpanzee. According to Popper, it would contradict the theory.
We know recently that the muscles of eyebrows are included in a wide fibrous ligament. It limits the mobility of muscles. Thus the chimpanzee can not mobilize its eyebrows a lot.
Darwin was right.
October 30, 2014
Incredibly interesting book, while some parts are funny by todays standards (sometimes the comparisons with retards/mentally ill and aboriginals is a bit racist and non PC to the point of being laugh out loud hilarious) it is a very educational piece of work which gives a excellent analysis of which emotions and expressions are innate and which are learned. Darwin was such a revolutionary thinker. I enjoy anything he wrote.
Read
June 5, 2009This book made my skin crawl, frankly. I never had any doubt that human emotions were the same as 'animal' emotions, and were often expressed the same way. But Darwin's description of his research strategy reveals appalling cruelty in the way animals (particularly zoo animals) were treated in the Victorian era--there are several descriptions of how animals resond to being beaten, for example.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews