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    Are There Basic Emotions PDF

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    of 4
    he bese ee wae bee ee ee he ll BTR T ows Conran be Ans Pocono Are There Basic Emotions? Paul Ekman University of California, San Francisco COrtony and-Turner’s (1990) arguments against those who adopt the view that there are basic ‘emotions are challenged. The evidence on universals in expression and in physiology strongly ‘suggest that there isa biological basis othe emotions that have been studied. Ortony and Turner's reviews ofthis literature ae faulted. and their alternative theoretical explanations do not ft the ‘evidence, The wilty ofthe basic emotions approach is also shown in terms of the research it has senerated. In their argument against basic emotions, Ortony and Turner (1990) distinguished two ways in which that phrase has been used: @) to describe elements that combine to form larger more complex emotions and (b) to denote emotions that are pre- sumed to havea biological bass. will not comment onthe fist use, because neither I nor most other current researchers who ‘post basic emotions use the concept in this way My focus stead will be on the arguments and evidence that suggest that ‘emotions are a product of our evolution, with some biological givens. This postion does not deny the important role of cul- ture and social learning processes in every aspect of emotion— the control of expressions, the symbolic representation of emo- tional experience, how one evaluates emotion-relevant situa tions, attitudes about ones own emotions, how one copes with ‘emotion, and so on—but it is not a totally malleable system. ‘There are constraints asa result of our evolution, and not the ‘ones that Ortony and Turner suggested. ‘To make my case I first consider findings on universals in facial expression. I believe that Ortony and Turner (1990) mise ‘understood the evidence. I show that their alternative explana- tion of the findings contradicts known facts. I next consider a second type of evidence for basic emotions—emotion-specific physiology. Again. | suggest that Ortony and Turner exagger- ated disagreements and took little note of the areas of agree- ‘ment in findings of emotion-specific autonomic nervous 5)3- tem (ANS) activity. also describe some more recent evidence, ‘which they could not have known about, that strengthens the basic emotions position. Finally | argue the merits of basic emotions conceptual framework in explaining diverse findings and focusing attention on questions that need empirical an- wer. Preparation of this article was supported by a Research Scientist ‘Avard from the National Insitute of Mental Health (MHO6091). 1 thank Richard Davidson, Phoebe Ellsworth, Wallace V Friesen, Robert Levenson, Harriet Oster, and Erika Rosenberg for theif criticisms and suggestions on eartier versions of this article Correspondence concerning thisaticle should be addressed to Paul Ekman, University of California, 401 Parnassus Avenue, San Fran- sco, California 94143, 350 Facial Expressions ‘Although they acknowledged some agreement in the lite ture about which emotions are basi, and admitted that some of the disagreements they emphasized are due to the type of data an investigator considered in postulating which emotions are ‘basic, Ortony and Turner (1990) concluded that “the landscape ‘of basic emotions is close to being as disorderly as Table | im- plies” (p. 316). A careful reading of the literature they cited shows that they have exaggerated the matte, particularly in regard to facial expression. Facial expression has been a focus since Darwin (1872/1965) for those who adopt an evolutionary perspective on emotion. Much of Ortony and Turner's own ar- {gument rests on their idiosyncratic reading of past findings on expreision. Nearly 20 years ago, in reviewing the previous 30 years of research on how observers in Western cultures judge the emo- tion shown in facial expressions, Ekman, Friesen, & Ellsworth (1972) found that every investigator had obtained evidence for six emotions (happiness, surprise. ear. sadness, anger. and dis- ust combined with contempt) Fifteen years later. reviewing subsequent research on facial expression with the further re- uirement that there be evidence of universality: Fridlund. Ek- ‘man, and Oster (1987) reaffirmed this isting. In the past few ‘years there has been but one addition, some evidence and argu ‘ment about distinguishing contempt from disgust (Ekman & Friesen, 1986, 1988; Ekman & Heider, 1988; lzard & Haynes. 1988; Ricci Bini, Brigheti, Garotti, & Boggi-Cavailo. 1988) ‘Are there no more emotions that have universal facial expres- sions? Tomkins and MeCarter (1964) reported within-culture evidence and Izard (1971) reported evidence across literate cul- ‘ures for the recognition of interest and shame. I share Ortony and Turners (1990) doubts about whether interest is an emo- tion, and I have some reservations about the evidence on shame, but this is not the place to discuss the details of the findings relevant to resolving those matters, For now itis sufi- cient to note that there is consistent evidence, across investiga- " They note that in one pelterate culture fearand surprise were not Server tell when emotion is present? The estimate that emotion i ‘resent is more likely to be correct when: the response sysiem changes are complex, when it snot just facial or skeletal. oF utonomic, or coping response bul a combination: the changes are organized in the sent of being interrelated and dis. tinetve for one or combination ofemotions the changes happen sickly: some ofthe response system changesarcones common people: some of the responses are not unique to homo sapiens, ‘This isnot the only time emotion gecurs, But when an observers estimate is most likely to be safe, (Ekman, 1977, p 61-62), ” Harriet Oster pointed this out to me. References ‘Ax, A: A. (1983). The physiological diferentation between fear and anger in humans. Pryehosomaie Medicine, 15. 433-442 Darwin, C (1965). The expression of emotions in man and animals Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Original work published 1872) Davidson, R. J, Ekman, P, Saron, C. Senulis, J. & Friesen, WV. (0990), Emotional expression and brain physiology I: Approach withdrawal and cerebral asymmetry Journal of Penonalit ad So- cial Pycholugy. $8. 330-34. Ekman. P (1977), Biological and cultural contributions to body and {facial movememt. In J. Blacking (Ed), Anhropology ofthe body (pp. 34-84), San Diego, CA: Academic Press, Ekman, P1979) About brows: Emotional and conversational signals. In M. von Cranach, K. Foppa, W Lepenies. & D.Ploog. (Eds) Hic ‘man ethology (pp. 169-248). Cambridge, England: Cambridge Uni- versity Press. ‘Ekman, P (in press) An argument for basic emotions. Cognition and Emotion Ekman, P, Davidson, R. J, & Friesen, WV (1990), Emotional expres ‘sion and brain physiology I: The Duchenne smile Journal of Person. ‘ality and Social Psychology 58, 342-353, Ekman, P, & Friesen, W V (1968) The repertoire of nonverbal behav- ‘or: Categories. origins, usage, and coding. Semiatca 1. 49-98, Ekman, P, & Friesen, WV (1975). Unmasking the fae. Englewood Cif, Ni: Premice Hall. Ekman, R, & Friesen, W ¥.(1986). A new pan-cultural expression of ‘emotion. Motivation and Emotion. 10, 159-168. Ekman, P, & Friesen, W (1988). Whoknows what about contempt: A reply to leard and Haynes, Motvaion and Emotion, 12. 17-22 Ekman, P. Friesen, W V, & Elsworth, P(1972), Emotion nthe human ‘face: Guidelines for research and an integration of findings New York: Pergamon Press. Ekman, P, & Heider, K. ©. (1988). The universality ofa contempt expression: A replication. Motivation and Emation, 12. 303-308. Ekman, P, Levenson, R. W. & Friesen, W V (1983) Autonomic ner ‘ous system activity distinguishes between emotions. Science 221 1208-1210, Fridlund,A., Ekman, P, & Oster, H. (1987), Facial expressions ofemo- tion. In A. Siegman & S. Feldstein (Eds), Nonverbal behavior and communication, (pp. 143-224). Hilldale, NJ Erbaum, ‘Graham, DT. 1962).Some research on psychophysologe specicity ‘and its relation to psychosomatic disease. In R. Soessler & N.S. Greenfelé (Eds), Physiological corelaues of prycholoica disorder (p. 221-238). Madison: Universiy of Wisconsin Press lard, C. (1971). The face of emotion. New York: Appleton-Century- Crofts, Tard, C, & Haynes, O. M. (1988). On the form and universality ofthe contempt expresion: A challenge to Ekinan and Friesens claim of | iscovery Motnation and Emotion, 12.116, Levenson. R. W, Carsensen, LL. Friesen, WV, Ekman, P (1991). Emotion. physiology, and expestion in od age. Paychology and dg- ing, 6.28.35 Levenson, R. W, Ekman, P,& Friesen, W V (1990), Voluntary facial expression generates emotion-speifc nervous system activity. ys chophysiology 27, 363-384. Levenson. RW, Ekman, P, Heider, K, & Friesen, WV. (in press, Emotion and autonomic nervous sysem activity in an Indonesian

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