the expression of emotion in man and animals-第48章
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sses like a shadow over his brow。 A half…starved man may think intently how to obtain food； but he probably will not frown unless he encounters either in thought or action some difficulty； or finds the food when obtained nauseous。 I have noticed that almost everyone instantly frowns if he perceives a strange or bad taste in what he is eating。 I asked several persons； without explaining my object； to listen intently to a very gentle tapping sound； the nature and source of which they all perfectly knew； and not one frowned； but a man who joined us； and who could not conceive what we were all doing in profound silence； when asked to listen； frowned much； though not in an ill…temper； and said he could not in the least understand what we all wanted。 Dr。 Piderit＇3＇ who has published remarks to the same effect； adds that stammerers generally frown in speaking； and that a man in doing even so trifling a thing as pulling on a boot； frowns if he finds it too tight。 Some persons are such habitual frowners； that the mere effort of speaking almost always causes their brows to contract。
＇2＇ ‘Mecanisme de la Physionomie Humaine；' Album； Legende iii。
＇3＇ ‘Mimik und Physiognomik；' s。 46。
Men of all races frown when they are in any way perplexed in thought； as I infer from the answers which I have received to my queries； but I framed them badly； confounding absorbed meditation with perplexed reflection。 Nevertheless； it is clear that the Australians； Malays； Hindoos； and Kafirs of South Africa frown； when they are puzzled。 Dobritzhoffer remarks that the Guaranies of South America on like occasions knit their brows。＇4＇
From these considerations； we may conclude that frowning is not the expression of simple reflection； however profound； or of attention； however close； but of something difficult or displeasing encountered in a train of thought or in action。 Deep reflection can； however； seldom be long carried on without some difficulty； so that it will generally be accompanied by a frown。 Hence it is that frowning commonly gives to the countenance； as Sir C。 Bell remarks； an aspect of intellectual energy。 But in order that this effect may be produced； the eyes must be clear and steady； or they may be cast downwards； as often occurs in deep thought。 The countenance must not be otherwise disturbed； as in the case of an ill…tempered or peevish man； or of one who shows the effects of prolonged suffering； with dulled eyes and drooping jaw； or who perceives a bad taste in his food； or who finds it difficult to perform some trifling act； such as threading a needle。 In these cases a frown may often be seen； but it will be accompanied by some other expression； which will entirely prevent the countenance having an appearance of intellectual energy or of profound thought。
＇4＇ ‘History of the Abipones；' Eng。 translat。 vol。 ii。 p。 59； as quoted by Lubbock； ‘Origin of Civilisation；' 1870； p。 355。
We may now inquire how it is that a frown should express the perception of something difficult or disagreeable； either in thought or action。 In the same way as naturalists find it advisable to trace the embryological development of an organ in order fully to understand its structure； so with the movements of expression it is advisable to follow as nearly as possible the same plan。 The earliest and almost sole expression seen during the first days of infancy； and then often exhibited is that displayed during the act of screaming； and screaming is excited； both at first and for some time afterwards； by every distressing or displeasing sensation and emotion；by hunger； pain； anger； jealousy； fear； &c。 At such times the muscles round the eyes are strongly contracted； and this； as I believe； explains to a large extent the act of frowning during the remainder of our lives。 I repeatedly observed my own infants； from under the age of one week to that of two or three months； and found that when a screaming…fit came on gradually； the first sign was the contraction of the corrugators； which produced a slight frown； quickly followed by the contraction of the other muscles round the eyes。 When an infant is uncomfortable or unwell； little frownsas I record in my notesmay be seen incessantly passing like shadows over its face； these being generally； but not always； followed sooner or later by a crying…fit。 For instance； I watched for some time a baby； between seven and eight weeks old； sucking some milk which was cold； and therefore displeasing to him； and a steady little frown was maintained all the time。 This was never developed into an actual crying…fit； though occasionally every stage of close approach could be observed。
As the habit of contracting the brows has been followed by infants during innumerable generations； at the commencement of every crying or screaming fit； it has become firmly associated with the incipient sense of something distressing or disagreeable。 Hence under similar circumstances it would be apt to be continued during maturity； although never then developed into a crying…fit。 Screaming or weeping begins to be voluntarily restrained at an early period of life； whereas frowning is hardly ever restrained at any age。 It is perhaps worth notice that with children much given to weeping； anything which perplexes their minds； and which would cause most other children merely to frown； readily makes them weep。 So with certain classes of the insane； any effort of mind； however slight； which with an habitual frowner would cause a slight frown； leads to their weeping in an unrestrained manner。 It is not more surprising that the habit of contracting the brows at the first perception of something distressing； although gained during infancy； should be retained during the rest of our lives； than that many other associated habits acquired at an early age should be permanently retained both by man and the lower animals。 For instance； full…grown cats； when feeling warm and comfortable； often retain the habit of alternately protruding their fore…feet with extended toes； which habit they practised for a definite purpose whilst sucking their mothers。
Another and distinct cause has probably strengthened the habit of frowning； whenever the mind is intent on any subject and encounters some difficulty。 Vision is the most important of all the senses； and during primeval times the closest attention must have been incessantly： directed towards distant objects for the sake of obtaining prey and avoiding danger。 I remember being struck； whilst travelling in parts of South America； which were dangerous from the presence of Indians； how incessantly； yet as it appeared unconsciously； the half…wild Gauchos closely scanned the whole horizon。 Now； when any one with no covering on his head （as must have been aboriginally the case with mankind）； strives to the utmost to distinguish in broad daylight； and especially if the sky is bright； a distant object； he almost invariably contracts his brows to prevent the entrance of too much light； the lower eyelids； cheeks； and upper lip being at the same time raised； so as to lessen the orifice of the eyes。 I have purposely asked several persons； young and old； to look； under the above circumstances； at distant objects； making them believe that I only wished to test the power of their vision； and they all behaved in the manner just described。 Some of them； also； put their open； flat hands over their eyes to keep out the excess of light。 Gratiolet； after making some remarks to nearly the same effect；＇5＇ says； 〃Ce sont la des attitudes de vision difficile。〃 He concludes that the muscles round the eyes contract partly for the sake of excluding too much light （which appears to me the more important end）； and partly to prevent all rays striking the retina； except those which come direct from the object that is scrutinized。 Mr。 Bowman； whom I consulted on this point； thinks that the contraction of the surrounding muscles may； in addition； 〃partly sustain the consensual movements of the two eyes； by giving a firmer support while the globes are brought to binocular vision by their own proper muscles。〃
As the effort of viewing with care under a bright light a distant object is both difficult and irksome； and as this effort ha
