TITLE

Emotional Expressions are Part of Biology

DESCRIPTION

This article is an excerpt fromfrom Mama’s Last Hug by Frans de Waal:  Emotional expressions are innate and part of biology.  You may know de Waal’s work with bonobo monkeys, and how he has studied a number of facets including the idea of injustice.   This brief excerpt focuses on emotional expression.  De Waal presents work by Paul Ekman who traveled the world to study emotional expression in a variety of cultures, and concluded that there is a universal understanding, recognition, and display of expression regardless of the culture.   Ekman, by the way, was the advisor to the Disney/Pixar movie “Inside Out.”  Ekman proposed six basic emotions: fear, anger, joy, sadness, disgust, and surprise.  This article can be used in conjunction with text chapters on development, nature-nurture, and theories of emotions.

SOURCE

Delancey Place, January 6, 2021

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.delanceyplace.com/view-archives.php?p=4265

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

•De Waal discusses Ekman’s findings on emotions in different cultures:  what is his conclusion?

•Is there a universality of expression?  How does biology play a role?

•How does environment play a role in the expression of emotion?

•What do we know about the emotional expressions in blind children?