Book Cover of The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

by Charles Darwin

Before Darwin, human emotional life had posed problems to the western philosophical categories of mind and body. Darwin's interest can be traced to his time as an Edinburgh medical student and the 1824 edition of Sir Charles Bell's Anatomy and Philosophy of Expression which argued for a spiritual dimension to the subject. In contrast, Darwin's biological approach links emotions to their origins in animal behaviour, and allows cultural factors only an auxiliary role in the shaping of expression. This biological emphasis leads to a concentration on six emotional states: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. It also leads to an appreciation of the universal nature of expression, with its implication of a single origin for the entire human species; and Darwin points to the importance of emotional communication with children in their psychological development. Darwin sought out the opinions of some leading British psychiatrists, notably James Crichton-Browne, in the preparation of the book which forms his main contribution to psychology.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1872

Authors

Charles Darwin image

Charles Robert Darwin was an English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. His proposition that all species of life have descended over tim...

Books by Charles Darwin

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

The Heart of the Ancient Wood Cover image

The Heart of the Ancient Wood by Sir Charles G. D. Roberts

This is a captivating book that transports readers into a world of enchantment and wonder within the depths of a timeless forest. This mesmerizing pie...

My Inventions and Other Works Cover image

My Inventions and Other Works by Nikola Tesla

Step into the extraordinary mind of Nikola Tesla, a visionary inventor who transformed the modern world with his groundbreaking discoveries in electri...

Dog: A Selection of Stories Cover image

Dog: A Selection of Stories by Various

It is a diverse range of stories, all centered around the theme of dogs. The collection includes works by well-known writers such as Amy Hempel, Deni...

How To Have Bird Neighbors Cover image

How To Have Bird Neighbors by S. Louise Patteson

The author provides the listener with anecdotes from her life of her experiences with birds. She describes their habits and antics, their food favorit...

What is Darwinism? Cover image

What is Darwinism? by Charles Hodge

In this, Hodge argues that Darwinism is not only a scientific theory, but also a philosophical and religious one. He asserts that Darwinism challenges...

Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained Cover image

Mysteries of Bee-keeping Explained by Moses Quinby

In this, Quinby shares his knowledge and experience of beekeeping with readers in a clear and concise manner. He covers everything from the basics of...

On the Nature of Things (Watson translation) Cover image

On the Nature of Things (Watson translation) by Titus Lucretius Carus

On the Nature of Things is a philosophical poem by the Roman poet Lucretius, written in the first century BC. The poem presents the Epicurean philosop...

Wilderness Babies Cover image

Wilderness Babies by Julia Augusta Schwartz

In "Wilderness Babies," Julia Augusta Schwartz unveils a captivating anthology of true stories, unveiling the awe-inspiring tales of animal mothers an...

Intelligenz der Blumen Cover image

Intelligenz der Blumen by Maurice Maeterlinck

In "Intelligenz der Blumen", Maurice Maeterlinck präsentiert eine Sammlung von elf Essays, die tiefgründige Betrachtungen über die Natur und die Gesel...

Birds and Their Nests Cover image

Birds and Their Nests by Mary Howitt

It is a delightful book that explores the fascinating world of avian homes. Written by the renowned English poet Mary Howitt, this captivating work of...

Reviews for The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

No reviews posted or approved, yet...