PSC 154 Chapter 1: "What Are Emotion Expressions For?" Article Summary
Document Summary
Charles darwin"s the expression of emotions in man and animals (eema) detailed emotional expressions for the very first time. Darwin suggested that emotional expressions serve two purposes: physiological and communicative. The physiological function is believed to have led to the communicative function, as we now largely use emotional expressions in social interaction. From the physiological perspective, emotions served as responses to the environment, and are considered adaptive. When experiencing fear, the widening of the eyes allow the individual to better take in their environment and their predator"s potential location; and when experiencing disgust, the scrunching of the nose prevents potentially toxic fumes from entering the body. However, emotions do not solely serve a physiological function, due to their exaggerated expressions. The difference between cues and signals is that signals evolved to serve a communicative purpose, while cues simply provide information, but not necessarily in a communicative way. Emotions originated as cues, and then evolved into signals.
