the expression of emotion in man and animals-第42章
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I may here mention a trifling observation； as it will serve to sum up our present subject。 An old lady with a comfortable but absorbed expression sat nearly opposite to me in a railway carriage。 Whilst I was looking at her； I saw that her _depressores anguli oris_ became very slightly； yet decidedly； contracted； but as her countenance remained as placid as ever； I reflected how meaningless was this contraction； and how easily one might be deceived。 The thought had hardly occurred to me when I saw that her eyes suddenly became suffused with tears almost to overflowing； and her whole countenance fell。 There could now be no doubt that some painful recollection； perhaps that of a long…lost child； was passing through her mind。 As soon as her sensorium was thus affected； certain nerve…cells from long habit instantly transmitted an order to all the respiratory muscles； and to those round the mouth； to prepare for a fit of crying。 But the order was countermanded by the will； or rather by a later acquired habit； and all the muscles were obedient； excepting in a slight degree the _depressores anguli oris_。 The mouth was not even opened； the respiration was not hurried； and no muscle was affected except those which draw down the corners of the mouth。
As soon as the mouth of this lady began； involuntarily and unconsciously on her part； to assume the proper form for a crying…fit； we may feel almost sure that some nerve…influence would have been transmitted through the long accustomed channels to the various respiratory muscles； as well as to those round the eyes； and to the vaso…motor centre which governs the supply of blood sent to the lacrymal glands。 Of this latter fact we have indeed clear evidence in her eyes becoming slightly suffused with tears； and we can understand this； as the lacrymal glands are less under the control of the will than the facial muscles。 No doubt there existed at the same time some tendency in the muscles round the eyes at contract； as if for the sake of protecting them from being gorged with blood； but this contraction was completely overmastered； and her brow remained unruffled。 Had the pyramidal； corrugator； and orbicular muscles been as little obedient to the will； as they are in many persons； they would have been slightly acted on； and then the central fasciae of the frontal muscle would have contracted in antagonism； and her eyebrows would have become oblique； with rectangular furrows on her forehead。 Her countenance would then have expressed still more plainly than it did a state of dejection； or rather one of grief。
Through steps such as these we can understand how it is； that as soon as some melancholy thought passes through the brain； there occurs a just perceptible drawing down of the corners of the mouth； or a slight raising up of the inner ends of the eyebrows； or both movements combined； and immediately afterwards a slight suffusion of tears。 A thrill of nerve…force is transmitted along several habitual channels； and produces an effect on any point where the will has not acquired through long habit much power of interference。 The above actions may be considered as rudimental vestiges of the screaming…fits； which are so frequent and prolonged during infancy。 In this case； as well as in many others； the links are indeed wonderful which connect cause and effect in giving rise to various expressions on the human countenance； and they explain to us the meaning of certain movements； which we involuntarily and unconsciously perform； whenever certain transitory emotions pass through our minds。 CHAPTER VIII。
Joy； HIGH SPIRITS； LOVE； TENDER FEELINGS； DEVOTION。
Laughter primarily the expression of joyLudicrous ideas Movements of the features during laughterNature of the sound producedThe secretion of tears during loud laughter Gradation from loud laughter to gentle smilingHigh spirits The expression of loveTender feelingsDevotion。
JOY； when intense； leads to various purposeless movements to dancing about； clapping the hands； stamping； &c。； and to loud laughter。 Laughter seems primarily to be the expression of mere joy or happiness。 We clearly see this in children at play； who are almost incessantly laughing。 With young persons past childhood； when they are in high spirits； there is always much meaningless laughter。 The laughter of the gods is described by Homer as 〃the exuberance of their celestial joy after their daily banquet。〃 A man smilesand smiling； as we shall see； graduates into laughter at meeting an old friend in the street； as he does at any trifling pleasure； such as smelling a sweet perfume。＇1＇ Laura Bridgman； from her blindness and deafness； could not have acquired any expression through imitation； yet when a letter from a beloved friend was communicated to her by gesture…language； she 〃laughed and clapped her hands； and the colour mounted to her cheeks。〃 On other occasions she has been seen to stamp for joy。＇2＇
＇1＇ Herbert Spencer； ‘Essays Scientific；' &c。； 1858； p。 360。
Idiots and imbecile persons likewise afford good evidence that laughter or smiling primarily expresses mere happiness or joy。 Dr。 Crichton Browne； to whom； as on so many other occasions； I am indebted for the results of his wide experience； informs me that with idiots laughter is the most prevalent and frequent of all the emotional expressions。 Many idiots are morose； passionate； restless； in a painful state of mind； or utterly stolid； and these never laugh。 Others frequently laugh in a quite senseless manner。 Thus an idiot boy； incapable of speech； complained to Dr。 Browne； by the aid of signs； that another boy in the asylum had given him a black eye； and this was accompanied by 〃explosions of laughter and with his face covered with the broadest smiles。〃 There is another large class of idiots who are persistently joyous and benign； and who are constantly laughing or smiling。＇3＇ Their countenances often exhibit a stereotyped smile； their joyousness is increased； and they grin； chuckle； or giggle； whenever food is placed before them； or when they are caressed； are shown bright colours； or hear music。 Some of them laugh more than usual when they walk about； or attempt any muscular exertion。 The joyousness of most of these idiots cannot possibly be associated； as Dr。 Browne remarks； with any distinct ideas： they simply feel pleasure； and express it by laughter or smiles。 With imbeciles rather higher in the scale； personal vanity seems to be the commonest cause of laughter； and next to this； pleasure arising from the approbation of their conduct。
＇2＇ F。 Lieber on the vocal sounds of L。 Bridgman； ‘Smithsonian Contributions；' 1851； vol。 ii。 p。 6。
＇3＇ See； also； Mr。 Marshall； in Phil。 Transact。 1864； p。 526。
With grown…up persons laughter is excited by causes considerably different from those which suffice during childhood； but this remark hardly applies to smiling。 Laughter in this respect is analogous with weeping； which with adults is almost confined to mental distress； whilst with children it is excited by bodily pain or any suffering； as well as by fear or rage。 Many curious discussions have been written on the causes of laughter with grown…up persons。 The subject is extremely complex。 Something incongruous or unaccountable； exciting surprise and some sense of superiority in the laugher； who must be in a happy frame of mind； seems to be the commonest cause。＇4＇ The circumstances must not be of a momentous nature： no poor man would laugh or smile on suddenly hearing that a large fortune had been bequeathed to him。 If the mind is strongly excited by pleasurable feelings； and any little unexpected event or thought occurs； then； as Mr。 Herbert Spencer remarks；＇5＇ 〃a large amount of nervous energy； instead of being allowed to expend itself in producing an equivalent amount of the new thoughts and emotion which were nascent； is suddenly checked in its flow。〃 。 。 。 〃The excess must discharge itself in some other direction； and there results an efflux through the motor nerves to various classes of the muscles； producing the half…convulsive actions we term laughter。〃 An observation； bearing on this point； was made by a correspondent during the recent siege of Paris； namely； that the German s
