this might be a stupid question but ive just been thinking about it.Do you think human facial expressions are genetically programed into us? or programed into us by society?
I believe that facial expressions are inherent to an extent. Even isolated cultures have been found to smile to express happiness, etc. If facial expressions were entirely learned, one would expect cultures with no contact with other civilizations to develop varied ways of signalling happiness and other emotions. However, there is a learned aspect to expressions and the expressions displayed by people vary according to their culture's norms (e.g. how much happiness or distress it is appropriate to display). I know there have been some psychology studies where they showed individuals of varying cultures a set of photos and asked them to identify the emotions displayed. The percentage of people who identified them correctly varied for each culture, so at least some expressions are not a completely universal thing. If I remember correctly, happiness was always identified with great success, so I would dare to guess that smiling is a very innate, natural action.Do you think human facial expressions are genetically programed into us? or programed into us by society?
There is not very much doubt that many basic expressions of emotion are instintual in nature, even in us.
Babies, for example, recognize facial expressions and tones of voice to a degree. Certainly not with the complexity of an adult - there is some learning that takes place. But research does indicate that ';a component of the ability to recognize facial expressions is unlearned';, a.k.a. instinctual (link 1).
There is also the universality of emotional expressions. You can go ANYWHERE in the world an probably have a fair idea whether someone is happy or not. Not a perfect idea, mind you, as learning and socialization can override just about any instinct. But what language is as universal as a smile?
And though it is still disputed whether animals themselves feel any emotions, they certainly SEEM to. We can look at completely wild, non-human creatures and have an idea whether they are having a good day or a bad one. How could this even be possible unless there was some common underpinning for all of us?
Facial expressions are so genetic that computer software is now used in places like airports to detect traveler's emotions. This first one is very specific, and tests your expressions to foods http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries鈥?/a>
The Mona Lisa certainly did not come from out modern society, and did not speak English (probably.) But check out this software http://smarteconomy.typepad.com/smart_ec鈥?/a>
http://www.design-emotion.com/2006/12/18鈥?/a>
Learned. My daughter has almost solely the genes of my ex-husband - face, body, teeth, etc. People often say she looks like me because of her facial expressions. The laziness is genetic. She drops her stuff where ever she was using it and there it lies - as does her biological father. I'm a pile person. I make piles everywhere, then go through eventually and put them away.
Never let society program you. You do learn them from friends and family though. I think that if they didn't use this form of communication enhancement, you would learn it elsewhere. If no one used it, you'd have no where from whence to learn them.
Well there have been cases of babies, who have been braught up in families that were un happy and broken, they were never smiled at or laughed at. And now these children do not know how to smile or laugh.
I think everyone is capable of having human facial expressions and we are born with the ability but i think we have to learn them from people around us when we are growing up to understand what they mean.
I've read accounts of people who made 'first contacts' with primitive societies that have never met white people before. They talked about this, and were quite amazed to observe how they all understood the simple facial and body expressions, and demonstrated them themselves. They smile, laugh, frown, shrug, etc.
Genetically
like what the first answerer said, we learn everything we think is natural now from our parents.
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