The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals

407 Pages·2009·6.62 MB·English

by  Charles Darwin

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Two hundred years after his birth and 150 years after the publication of ‘On
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The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
This second edition of The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals
was edited by his son Francis Darwin and published in 1890. As Sir Francis
notes in his brief preface, because the first edition did not sell out in Charles
Darwin’s lifetime, ‘he had no opportunity of publishing the material collected
with a view to a second edition’. This material, in the form of ‘a mass of
letters, extracts from and references to books’ was utilised in the second
edition, as were Darwin’s pencilled corrections in his own volume of the first.
The book is a study of the muscular movements of the face (both human
and animal) triggered by the emotions being felt - a ‘physical’ response to
a ‘mental’ sensation. Darwin’s detailed analysis of what actually happens
to a body in a state of fear, or joy, or anger is illustrated by photographic
images, then a relative novelty in scientific publications, but one which
Darwin explained while apologising for the ‘somewhat indistinct’ images:
‘Nevertheless they are faithful copies, and are much superior for my purpose
to any drawing, however carefully executed.’
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The Expression of
the Emotions in
Man and Animals
Charles Darwin
Edited by Francis Darwin
CAMbriDgE UNivErSiTy PrESS
Cambridge New york Melbourne Madrid Cape Town Singapore São Paolo Delhi
Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New york
www.cambridge.org
information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108004831
© in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009
This edition first published 1890
This digitally printed version 2009
iSbN 978-1-108-00483-1
This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect
the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated.
THE
EXPRESSION OF THE EMOTIONS
MAN AND ANIMALS.
BY CHAELES DAEWIN.
SECOND EDITION.
EDITED
BY FRANCIS DARWIN,
FELLOW OF CHKIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS.
LONDON:
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.
1890.
Ike right of Translation is reserved.
WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF CHARLES DARWIN.
With an Autobiographical Chapter. E'lited by his Sjn, FKANCIS DARWIN.
Seventh Thousand. Portraits. 3 vols. 8vo. 36s. MURRAY.
A NATURALIST'S JOURNAL OF RESEARCHES INTO
THE NATUKAL HISTORY AND UEC .LOGY OF COUNTRIES VISITKD during a VOYAGK
ltouND THE WOULD. Twenty-eighth Thousand. Woodcuts. MURRAY.
THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL
SELECTION; or. THE PKKSERVATION OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE
STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. Thirty-seventh Thousand. Woodcuts. Large Type
Edition. 2 vols. Crown 8vo., Us. Cheap Edition, 6s. MURRAY.
THE VARIOUS CONTRIVANCES BY WHICH ORCHIDS
AUK FERTILIZED BY INSECTS. Fourth Thousand. Woodcuts. 7s. 6d.
.MURRAY
THE VARIATION OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS UNDER
DOMESTICATION. Sixth Thousand. Illustrations. 15s. MURRAY.
THE DESCENT OF MAN, AND SELECTION IN RELA-
TION TO SEX. Twenty fifth Thousand. Illustrations. Large Type Edition.
•2 vols, Uro-vn 8vo., 15s. Cheap Edition, 7s. 6<i. MURRAY.
INSECTIVOROUS PLANTS. Fifth Thousand. Illustrations. 9s-
MURRAY.
THE MOVEMENTS AND HABITS OF CLIMBING PLANTS.
Third Thousand. Woodcuts. 6s. MURRAY.
THE EFFECTS OF CROSS AND SELF-FERTILIZATION
IN THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. Third Thousand, illustrations. 9«.
MURRAY.
THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF FLOWERS ON PLANTS OF
THE SAME M'ECIES. Third Thousand. Illustrations. 7s.6<i. MURRAY.
THE POWER OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS. Third Thousand.
WoodcUtS. MURRAY.
THE FORMATION OF VEGETABLE MOULD THROUGH
THE ACTION OF WOKMS. Twelfth Tlwusand. Woodcuts. Crown 8vo.,
bs. MURRAY.
LIFE OF ERASMUS DARWIN. With a Study of Ms Scientific
Works. Portrait, is. Bd. MURRAY.
THE STRUCTURE AND DISTRIBUTION OF CORAL
Khilib'6. Second Kdition, revised. SMITH, ELDER, is, Go.
GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON VOLCANIC ISLANDS
AND ON PARTS OF SOU I'll AMERICA, visited during the Voyage of
H M.S. ' Beagle.' Second Edition. SMITH, ELDER, & Co.
GEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON SOUTH AMERICA.
SMITH, ELDER, & Co.
A MONOGRAPH OF THE CIRRIPEDIA. With numerous
illustrations, a vols. 8vo. KAY SOCIETY. HARDWIOKE.
A MONOGRAPH OF THE FOSSIL LEPADID^S, OR
PEDUNCULATED C1K1UPEDS OF UKEAT BRITAIN.
PALffiONTOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
A MONOGRAPH OF THE FOSSIL BALANID^E AND
VEKKUU1D/E OF GREAT KIUTAIN. PAL^EONTOGKAPHICAL SOCIETY.
FACTS AND ARGUMENTS FOR DARWIN. By FRITZ
MULLER. From the German, with Additions by the Author. Translated by
W. S. IJALLAS, F.L.S. Illustrations. 6s. MURRAY.
IONDOH: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWKS AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD 6TREET
AND CHAU1KQ CRO&S.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
THE first edition not having been exhausted during the
lifetime of my father, he had no opportunity of publishing
the material collected with a view to a second edition.
This material, consisting of a mass of letters, extracts
from and references to books, pamphlets and reviews,
I have attempted to utilise in the present volume. I
have also made some use of what has been written
since the publication of the first edition, but my
reading has been very far from complete.
A few corrections of the text have been made, in
which I have followed the pencilled remarks in my
father's copy of the book. The other additions are
given as footnotes and are distinguished by being
enclosed in square brackets.
FKAXCIS DARWIX.
CAMBRIDGE,
Sept. 2, 1889.

CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION Pages 1-27
CHAP. I.—GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EXPRESSION.
The three chief principles stated—The first principle—Serviceable
actions become habitual in association with certain states of the
mind, and are performed whether or not of service in each
particular case—The force of habit—Inheritance—Associated
habitual movements in man—Reflex actions—Passage of habits
into reflex actions—Associated habitual movements in the lower
animals—Concluding remarks 28-51
CHAP. II.—GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EXPRESSION—continued.
The Principle of Antithesis—Instances in the dog and cat—-Origin
of the principle—Conventional signs—-The principle of anti-
thesis has not arisen from opposite actions being consciously
performed under opposite impulses 52-68
CHAP. III.—GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EXPRESSION—
concluded.
The principle of the direct action of the excited nervous system on
the body, independently of the will and in part of habit—
Change of colour in the hair—Trembling of the muscles—
Modified secretions—Perspiration—Expression of extreme pain
—Of rage, great joy, and terror—Contrast between the emotions
which cause and do not cause expressive movements—Exciting
and depressing states of the mind—Summary .. .. 69-87
CHAP. IV.—MEANS OF EXPRESSION IN ANIMALS.
The emission of sounds — Vocal sounds — Sounds otherwise pro-
duced—Erection of the dermal appendages, hairs, feathers, &c,
under the emotions of anger and terror—The drawing back of
the ears as a preparation for fighting, and as an expression
of anger—Erection of the ears and raising the head, a sign of
attention 88-121