the expression of emotion in man and animals-第50章
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ild Indians of North America; and according to Mr。 D。 Forbes; with the Aymaras of Bolivia。 I have also observed it with the Araucanos of southern Chili。 Mr。 Dyson Lacy remarks that the natives of Australia; when in this frame of mind; sometimes fold their arms across their breasts; an attitude which may be seen with us。 A firm determination; amounting to obstinacy; is; also; sometimes expressed by both shoulders being kept raised; the meaning of which gesture will be explained in the following chapter。
With young children sulkiness is shown by pouting; or; as it is sometimes called; 〃making a snout。〃'10' When the corners of the mouth are much depressed; the lower lip is a little everted and protruded; and this is likewise called a pout。 But the pouting here referred to; consists of the protrusion of both lips into a tubular form; sometimes to such an extent as to project as far as the end of the nose; if this be short。 Pouting is generally accompanied by frowning; and sometimes by the utterance of a booing or whooing noise。 This expression is remarkable; as almost the sole one; as far as I know; which is exhibited much more plainly during childhood; at least with Europeans; than during maturity。 There is; however; some tendency to the protrusion of the lips with the adults of all races under the influence of great rage。 Some children pout when they are shy; and they can then hardly be called sulky。
'10' Hensleigh Wedgwood on ‘The Origin of Language;' 1866; p。 78。
From inquiries which I have made in several large families; pouting does not seem very common with European children; but it prevails throughout the world; and must be both common and strongly marked with most savage races; as it has caught the attention of many observers。 It has been noticed in eight different districts of Australia; and one of my informants remarks how greatly the lips of the children are then protruded。 Two observers have seen pouting with the children of Hindoos; three; with those of the Kafirs and Fingoes of South Africa; and with the Hottentots; and two; with the children of the wild Indians of North America。 Pouting has also been observed with the Chinese; Abyssinians; Malays of Malacca; Dyaks of Borneo; and often with the New Zealanders。 Mr。 Mansel Weale informs me that he has seen the lips much protruded; not only with the children of the Kafirs; but with the adults of both sexes when sulky; and Mr。 Stack has sometimes observed the same thing with the men; and very frequently with the women of New Zealand。 A trace of the same expression may occasionally be detected even with adult Europeans。
We thus see that the protrusion of the lips; especially with young children; is characteristic of sulkiness throughout the greater part of the world。 This movement apparently results from the retention; chiefly during youth; of a primordial habit; or from an occasional reversion to it。 Young orangs and chimpanzees protrude their lips to an extraordinary degree; as described in a former chapter; when they are discontented; somewhat angry; or sulky; also when they are surprised; a little frightened; and even when slightly pleased。 Their mouths are protruded apparently for the sake of making the various noises proper to these several states of mind; and its shape; as I observed with the chimpanzee; differed slightly when the cry of pleasure and that of anger were uttered。 As soon as these animals become enraged; the shape of the month wholly changes; and the teeth are exposed。 The adult orang when wounded is said to emit 〃a singular cry; consisting at first of high notes; which at length deepen into a low roar。 While giving out the high notes he thrusts out his lips into a funnel shape; but in uttering the low notes he holds his mouth wide open。〃'11' With the gorilla; the lower lip is said to be capable of great elongation。 If then our semi…human progenitors protruded their lips when sulky or a little angered; in the same manner as do the existing anthropoid apes; it is not an anomalous; though a curious fact; that our children should exhibit; when similarly affected; a trace of the same expression; together with some tendency to utter a noise。 For it is not at all unusual for animals to retain; more or less perfectly; during early youth; and subsequently to lose; characters which were aboriginally possessed by their adult progenitors; and which are still retained by distinct species; their near relations。
Nor is it an anomalous fact that the children of savages should exhibit a stronger tendency to protrude their lips; when sulky; than the children of civilized Europeans; for the essence of savagery seems to consist in the retention of a primordial condition; and this occasionally holds good even with bodily peculiarities。'12' It may be objected to this view of the origin of pouting; that the anthropoid apes likewise protrude their lips when astonished and even when a little pleased; whilst with us this expression is generally confined to a sulky frame of mind。 But we shall see in a future chapter that with men of various races surprise does sometimes lead to a slight protrusion of the lips; though great surprise or astonishment is more commonly shown by the mouth being widely opened。 As when we smile or laugh we draw back the corners of the mouth; we have lost any tendency to protrude the lips; when pleased; if indeed our early progenitors thus expressed pleasure。
'11' Muller; as quoted by Huxley; ‘Man's Place in Nature;' 1863; p。 38。
A little gesture made by sulky children may here be noticed; namely; their 〃showing a cold shoulder。〃 This has a different meaning; as; I believe; from the keeping both shoulders raised。 A cross child; sitting on its parent's knee; will lift up the near shoulder; then jerk it away; as if from a caress; and afterwards give a backward push with it; as if to push away the offender。 I have seen a child; standing at some distance from any one; clearly express its feelings by raising one shoulder; giving it a little backward movement; and then turning away its whole body。
_Decision or determination_。The firm closure of the mouth tends to give an expression of determination or decision to the countenance。 No determined man probably ever had an habitually gaping mouth。 Hence; also; a small and weak lower jaw; which seems to indicate that the mouth is not habitually and firmly closed; is commonly thought to be characteristic of feebleness of character。 A prolonged effort of any kind; whether of body or mind; implies previous determination; and if it can be shown that the mouth is generally closed with firmness before and during a great and continued exertion of the muscular system; then; through the principle of association; the mouth would almost certainly be closed as soon as any determined resolution was taken。 Now several observers have noticed that a man; in commencing any violent muscular effort; invariably first distends his lungs with air; and then compresses it by the strong contraction of the muscles of the chest; and to effect this the mouth must be firmly closed。 Moreover; as soon as the man is compelled to draw breath; he still keeps his chest as much distended as possible。
'11' I have given several instances in my ‘Descent of Man;' vol。 i。 chap。 iv。
Various causes have been assigned for this manner of acting。 Sir C。 Bell maintains'13' that the chest is distended with air; and is kept distended at such times; in order to give a fixed support to the muscles which are thereto attached。 Hence; as he remarks; when two men are engaged in a deadly contest; a terrible silence prevails; broken only by hard stifled breathing。 There is silence; because to expel the air in the utterance of any sound would be to relax the support for the muscles of the arms。 If an outcry is heard; supposing the struggle to take place in the dark; we at once know that one of the two has given up in despair。
Gratiolet admits'14' that when a man has to struggle with another to his utmost; or has to support a great weight; or to keep for a long time the same forced attitude; it is necessary for him first to make a deep inspiration; and then to cease breathing; but he thinks that Sir C。 Bell's explanati