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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Darwin Evolutionary Theory
Charles Darwin wasn't just interested in how species physically evolved - he was also fascinated by how humans express emotions. In 1872, he published "The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals," where he suggested that many of our non-verbal behaviours have evolutionary origins and serve important survival functions.
Key Definitions:
Darwin proposed three key principles to explain non-verbal behaviour:
Darwin gathered evidence through:
One of Darwin's most important claims was that certain facial expressions are universal across all human cultures. This suggests they have evolutionary origins rather than being learned. Modern research by Paul Ekman has identified six basic emotions with universal expressions:
Lowered brows, tense eyes, compressed lips. Signals potential aggression and warns others to back off.
Raised eyebrows, widened eyes, open mouth. Prepares for flight and signals danger to others.
Wrinkled nose, raised upper lip. Helps avoid contaminated or poisonous substances.
Drooping eyelids, downturned mouth. Signals need for support and elicits sympathy from others.
Raised cheeks, crinkled eyes, upturned mouth. Promotes social bonding and cooperation.
Raised eyebrows, widened eyes, open mouth. Increases sensory intake during unexpected events.
Paul Ekman conducted groundbreaking research in the 1960s to test Darwin's theory. He showed photographs of facial expressions to people from different cultures, including isolated tribes in Papua New Guinea who had minimal contact with Western media. Participants could identify the same basic emotions regardless of cultural background, strongly supporting Darwin's claim that these expressions are universal and likely have evolutionary origins. This research is considered one of the strongest pieces of evidence for the evolutionary explanation of non-verbal behaviour.
According to Darwin's theory, our non-verbal behaviours evolved because they helped our ancestors survive and reproduce. Here are some key functions:
Many non-verbal behaviours provide direct survival benefits:
Facial expressions can quickly communicate danger to group members. For example, a fear expression draws attention to potential threats and prepares others to respond. This was crucial for our ancestors living in dangerous environments with predators.
Non-verbal signals help maintain social bonds within groups. Smiling and other positive expressions promote cooperation and trust, which were essential for early humans who relied on group living for survival.
Non-verbal communication offers several advantages over verbal communication:
Direct eye contact can signal dominance or threat in many primates, including humans. Averting gaze often signals submission. This system helps establish social hierarchies without physical fighting, reducing risk of injury. Interestingly, prolonged eye contact between trusted individuals releases oxytocin, promoting bonding.
Many human gestures have evolutionary roots. Pointing developed as a way to direct attention to important objects or locations. Open-palm gestures evolved to show we're not concealing weapons, signalling peaceful intentions. These gestures appear across cultures with similar meanings.
Babies are born with the ability to produce and respond to certain facial expressions. Newborns can imitate facial expressions within hours of birth and show preference for face-like patterns. This suggests these abilities are innate rather than learned, supporting an evolutionary explanation.
While basic expressions are universal, cultures develop "display rules" about when and how to show emotions. This explains why expressions may vary across cultures despite having the same biological basis - an interesting interaction between evolution and culture.
A compelling study by Matsumoto and Willingham (2009) compared the facial expressions of blind and sighted athletes at the Paralympic and Olympic Games. They found that blind athletes who had never seen facial expressions displayed the same expressions of pride, happiness, or disappointment as sighted athletes when winning or losing. This strongly supports Darwin's theory that these expressions are innate rather than learned through observation, as the blind athletes couldn't have visually learned these expressions.
Darwin's evolutionary theory provides a compelling explanation for many aspects of human non-verbal behaviour. While not all non-verbal communication can be explained through evolution alone (cultural and social factors clearly play important roles), the evidence strongly suggests that our facial expressions and many gestures have deep evolutionary roots.
Understanding the evolutionary basis of non-verbal behaviour helps us appreciate why these signals are so powerful in human interaction. Our facial expressions aren't just random movements - they're part of an ancient communication system that helped our ancestors survive and thrive in challenging environments. Next time you smile at a friend or raise your eyebrows in surprise, remember you're using an expression system millions of years in the making!
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