Darwin’s Legacy A Critical Examination of Darwin’s Theory

Darwin’s Methodology Questionnaires Photographs

Duchenne’s Photographs Believed facial muscles were for purpose of emotional expression Used Electrical Stimulation “Duchenne Smile”

Implications Decoding Hypothesis Decoding Hypothesis – People should interpret emotional expression the same (universal recognition) Encoding Hypothesis Encoding Hypothesis – The same emotions should lead to the same expression (universal expression)

Decoding Hypothesis (Recognition) Members of a pre-literate, primitive tribe were able to accurately identify facial expressions of emotion – Happy, Sad, Anger, Disgust, Fear and Surprise

Implications Decoding Hypothesis Decoding Hypothesis – People should interpret emotional expression the same (universal recognition) Encoding Hypothesis Encoding Hypothesis – The same emotions should lead to the same expression (universal expression)

Encoding Hypothesis (Expression) Action Tendencies Behavioral patterns associated with emotion – Argues that emotion provide a preparedness or tendency to behave in a particular way

Encoding Hypothesis (Expression) Display Rules Cultural rules may dictate if and when we express emotion

Encoding Hypothesis (Expression) Collectivists cultures tend to hide emotion in the presence of others; whereas, individualistic cultures do not Research suggests that emotional information is universally and automatically displayed, but is modified for public by collectivists cultures Cultural Display Universal Expression

Darwin’s Legacy Use of Evolutionary Theory General Principles Methods of Study – “Inspired Work”