Facial expressions of emotion are not culturally universal
University of Glasgow · University of Fribourg
Abstract
Since Darwin's seminal works, the universality of facial expressions of emotion has remained one of the longest standing debates in the biological and social sciences. Briefly stated, the universality hypothesis claims that all humans communicate six basic internal emotional states (happy, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, and sad) using the same facial movements by virtue of their biological and evolutionary origins [Susskind JM, et al. (2008) Nat Neurosci 11:843-850]. Here, we refute this assumed universality. Using a unique computer graphics platform that combines generative grammars [Chomsky N (1965) MIT Press, Cambridge, MA] with visual perception, we accessed the mind's eye of 30 Western and Eastern…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 20.55
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 43
Authors
5Topics & keywords
- Facial expression
- Universality (dynamical systems)
- Psychology
- Disgust
- Surprise
- Cognitive psychology
- Emotion classification
- Emotional expression