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Evolutionary Theory and the Functions of Emotions  251

Evolutionary Theory and the Functions of Emotions

Darwin highlighted the role of emotions in human survival in his book The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals (1872). Darwin claimed that both humans and nonhuman animals display a set of basic facial expressions, and he presented photographic evidence of humans’ and animals’ emotions to support his assertations. His photographs depicted impressive similarities, for example, in the eye muscle contrac- tions and teeth exposure associated with anger in humans and nonhuman primates. He proposed that six basic emotions can already be found in infants— anger, fear, surprise, disgust, happiness, and sadness ( FIGURE 7.2 ). However, the basis for Darwin’s evolu- tionary perspective of emotions rests on the idea that emotions are universal and adaptive. Let’s consider evidence for each claim. Are Emotions Universal? LEARNING OBJECTIVE 7.1  Discuss evidence suggesting that humans are hardwired for basic emotions and what indicates that these emotions are universal. In the late twentieth century, developmental scientists embraced Darwin’s theories and set out to investi-

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FIGURE 7.2  Darwin claimed that emotions serve critical survival functions in animals and humans.  His observations led him to propose that humans and animals alike experience six basic emotions of anger, fear, surprise, disgust, happiness, and sad- ness. Here are photos taken from archives of Darwin’s work that show similarities among infants in their expression of distress, which offers evidence for the early emerging and universal nature of human basic emotions.

gate the universality of emotions. Paul Ekman (1971) suggested that humans were hardwired for basic emotions of happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise (and possibly contempt). Ekman conducted one of the most-cited stud- ies on the universality of emotions, in which he asked adults from the United States, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and a preliterate community in New Guinea to identify emotions of characters in a story by pointing to one of several photos of facial expressions. Adults across the different cultural communities generally interpreted the facial expressions in the same way, supporting the idea that people everywhere connect specific facial expressions with specific emotions. Similarly, the facial expressions of infants from European American, Chinese, and Japanese back- grounds indicate the early and universal presence of basic emotions. Infants’ cries, smiles, and expressions of distaste look the same across the world and are comparable to those of adults (Camras et al., 2007). CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING 7.1 1. List the basic emotions. 2. What evidence supports the proposition that humans are hardwired for basic emotions? Are Emotions Adaptive? LEARNING OBJECTIVE 7.2  Describe the two vital functions that emotions serve. Emotions often get a bad rap, for example when someone is criticized for being overly emotional. However, emotions serve vital roles in everyday functioning: They prepare and motivate individuals for action and underpin social relationships with others (Saarni et al., 2007; Witherington, Campos, & Hertenstein, 2007). ✓ PROPERTY OF OXFORD Tamis-LeMonda Child Development: Context, Culture, and Cascades 1E Sinauer Associates/OUP Morales Studio TAMIS1e_07.02 06-30-21

basic emotions  Universal emotions such as anger, fear, surprise, disgust, happiness, and sadness

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