the expression of emotion in man and animals-第62章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ci； two of the Apostles have their hands half uplifted； clearly expressive of their astonishment。 A trustworthy observer told me that he had lately met his wife under most unexpected circumstances： 〃She started； opened her mouth and eyes very widely； and threw up both her arms above her head。〃 Several years ago I was surprised by seeing several of my young children earnestly doing something together on the ground； but the distance was too great for me to ask what they were about。 Therefore I threw up my open hands with extended fingers above my head； and as soon as I had done this； I became conscious of the action。 I then waited； without saying a word； to see if my children had understood this gesture； and as they came running to me they cried out； 〃We saw that you were astonished at us。〃 I do not know whether this gesture is common to the various races of man； as I neglected to make inquiries on this head。 That it is innate or natural may be inferred from the fact that Laura Bridgman； when amazed； 〃spreads her arms and turns her hands with extended fingers upwards；〃＇11＇ nor is it likely； considering that the feeling of surprise is generally a brief one； that she should have learnt this gesture through her keen sense of touch。
Huschke describes＇12＇ a somewhat different yet allied gesture； which he says is exhibited by persons when astonished。 They hold themselves erect； with the features as before described； but with the straightened arms extended backwardsthe stretched fingers being separated from each other。 I have never myself seen this gesture； but Huschke is probably correct； for a friend asked another man how he would express great astonishment； and he at once threw himself into this attitude。
These gestures are； I believe； explicable on the principle of antithesis。 We have seen that an indignant man holds his head erect； squares his shoulders； turns out his elbows； often clenches his fist； frowns； and closes his mouth； whilst the attitude of a helpless man is in every one of these details the reverse。 Now； a man in an ordinary frame of mind； doing nothing and thinking of nothing in particular； usually keeps his two arms suspended laxly by his sides； with his hands somewhat flexed； and the fingers near together。 Therefore； to raise the arms suddenly； either the whole arms or the fore…arms； to open the palms flat； and to separate the fingers；or； again； to straighten the arms； extending them backwards with separated fingers；are movements in complete antithesis to those preserved under an indifferent frame of mind； and they are； in consequence； unconsciously assumed by an astonished man。 There is； also； often a desire to display surprise in a conspicuous manner； and the above attitudes are well fitted for this purpose。 It may be asked why should surprise； and only a few other states of the mind； be exhibited by movements in antithesis to others。 But this principle will not be brought into play in the case of those emotions； such as terror； great joy； suffering； or rage； which naturally lead to certain lines of action and produce certain effects on the body； for the whole system is thus preoccupied； and these emotions are already thus expressed with the greatest plainness。
＇11＇ Lieber； ‘On the Vocal Sounds；' &c。； ibid。 p。 7。
＇12＇ Huschke； ‘Mimices et Physiognomices；' 1821； p。 18。 Gratiolet （De la Phys。 p。 255） gives a figure of a man in this attitude； which； however； seems to me expressive of fear combined with astonishment。 Le Brun also refers （Lavater； vol。 ix。 p。 299） to the hands of an astonished man being opened。
There is another little gesture； expressive of astonishment of which I can offer no explanation； namely； the hand being placed over the mouth or on some part of the head。 This has been observed with so many races of man； that it must have some natural origin。 A wild Australian was taken into a large room full of official papers； which surprised him greatly； and he cried out； _cluck； cluck； cluck_； putting the back of his hand towards his lips。 Mrs。 Barber says that the Kafirs and Fingoes express astonishment by a serious look and by placing the right hand upon the mouth； Littering the word _mawo_； which means ‘wonderful。' The Bushmen are said＇13＇ to put their right hands to their necks； bending their heads backwards。 Mr。 Winwood Reade has observed that the negroes on the West Coast of Africa； when surprised； clap their hands to their mouths； saying at the same time； 〃My mouth cleaves to me；〃 i。 e。 to my hands； and he has heard that this is their usual gesture on such occasions。 Captain Speedy informs me that the Abyssinians place their right hand to the forehead； with the palm outside。 Lastly； Mr。 Washington Matthews states that the conventional sign of astonishment with the wild tribes of the western parts of the United States 〃is made by placing the half…closed hand over the mouth； in doing this； the head is often bent forwards； and words or low groans are sometimes uttered。〃 Catlin＇14＇ makes the same remark about the hand being pressed over the mouth by the Mandans and other Indian tribes。
＇13＇ Huschke； ibid。 p。 18。
_Admiration_。Little need be said on this head。 Admiration apparently consists of surprise associated with some pleasure and a sense of approval。 When vividly felt； the eyes are opened and the eyebrows raised； the eyes become bright； instead of remaining blank； as under simple astonishment； and the mouth； instead of gaping open； expands into a smile。
_Fear； Terror_。The word ‘fear' seems to be derived from what is sudden and dangerous；＇15＇ and that of terror from the trembling of the vocal organs and body。 I use the word ‘terror' for extreme fear； but some writers think it ought to be confined to cases in which the imagination is more particularly concerned。 Fear is often preceded by astonishment； and is so far akin to it； that both lead to the senses of sight and hearing being instantly aroused。 In both cases the eyes and mouth are widely opened； and the eyebrows raised。 The frightened man at first stands like a statue motionless and breathless； or crouches down as if instinctively to escape observation。
＇14＇ ‘North American Indians；' 3rd edit。 1842； vol。 i。 p。 105。
＇15＇ H。 Wedgwood； Dict。 of English Etymology； vol。 ii。 1862； p。 35。 See； also； Gratiolet （‘De la Physionomie；' p。 135） on the sources of such words as ‘terror； horror； rigidus； frigidus；' &c。
The heart beats quickly and violently； so that it palpitates or knocks against the ribs； but it is very doubtful whether it then works more efficiently than usual； so as to send a greater supply of blood to all parts of the body； for the skin instantly becomes pale； as during incipient faintness。 This paleness of the surface； however； is probably in large part； or exclusively； due to the vasomotor centre being affected in such a manner as to cause the contraction of the small arteries of the skin。 That the skin is much affected under the sense of great fear； we see in the marvellous and inexplicable manner in which perspiration immediately exudes from it。 This exudation is all the more remarkable； as the surface is then cold； and hence the term a cold sweat； whereas； the sudorific glands are properly excited into action when the surface is heated。 The hairs also on the skin stand erect； and the superficial muscles shiver。 In connection with the disturbed action of the heart； the breathing is hurried。 The salivary glands act imperfectly； the mouth becomes dry；＇16＇ and is often opened and shut。 I have also noticed that under slight fear there is a strong tendency to yawn。 One of the best…marked symptoms is the trembling of all the muscles of the body； and this is often first seen in the lips。 From this cause； and from the dryness of the mouth； the voice becomes husky or indistinct； or may altogether fail。 〃Obstupui； steteruntque comae； et vox faucibus haesit。〃
＇16＇ Mr。 Bain （‘The Emotions and the Will；' 1865； p。 54） explains in the following manner the origin of the custom 〃of subjecting criminals in India to the ordeal of the morsel of rice。 The accused is made to take a mouthful of rice； and after a little time to throw it out。 If the morsel is quite dry； the party is b
