Darwin's "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals"

Charles Darwin's "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals" examines how emotions are communicated through facial expressions and gestures across humans and animals. He proposes that many emotional expressions are inherited and evolved over time, serving important social and survival functions. For example, facial expressions like frowns, smiles, or tears convey feelings such as anger, happiness, or distress. Darwin suggests that these signals are universal, showing common ancestry, and have helped social interactions and adaptive behaviors. His work highlights the biological basis of emotions and their role in communication, emphasizing that emotional expressions are both instinctive and culturally influenced.