the expression of emotion in man and animals-第40章
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feeling savage and ready for an attack。 Whether the adult anthropomorphous apes； in the males of whom the canines are much larger than in the females； uncover them when prepared to fight； is not known。
The expression here considered； whether that of a playful sneer or ferocious snarl； is one of the most curious which occurs in man。 It reveals his animal descent； for no one； even if rolling on the ground in a deadly grapple with an enemy； and attempting to bite him； would try to use his canine teeth more than his other teeth。 We may readily believe from our affinity to the anthropomorphous apes that our male semi…human progenitors possessed great canine teeth； and men are now occasionally born having them of unusually large size； with interspaces in the opposite jaw for their reception。＇17＇ We may further suspect； notwithstanding that we have no support from analogy； that our semi…human progenitors uncovered their canine teeth when prepared for battle； as we still do when feeling ferocious； or when merely sneering at or defying some one； without any intention of making a real attack with our teeth。
＇17＇ ‘The Descent of Man；' 1871； vol。 L p。 126。 CHAPTER XI。
DISDAINCONTEMPTDISGUST…GUILTPRIDE； ETC。HELPLESSNESSPATIENCE AFFIRMATION AND NEGATION。
Contempt； scorn and disdain； variously expressedDerisive smile Gestures expressive of contemptDisgustGuilt； deceit； pride； &c。 Helplessness or impotencePatienceObstinacyShrugging the shoulders common to most of the races of manSigns of affirmation and negation。
SCORN and disdain can hardly be distinguished from contempt； excepting that they imply a rather more angry frame of mind。 Nor can they be clearly distinguished from the feelings discussed in the last chapter under the terms of sneering and defiance。 Disgust is a sensation rather more distinct in its nature and refers to something revolting； primarily in relation to the sense of taste； as actually perceived or vividly imagined； and secondarily to anything which causes a similar feeling； through the sense of smell； touch； and even of eyesight。 Nevertheless； extreme contempt； or as it is often called loathing contempt； hardly differs from disgust。 These several conditions of the mind are； therefore； nearly related； and each of them may be exhibited in many different ways。 Some writers have insisted chiefly on one mode of expression； and others on a different mode。 From this circumstance M。 Lemoine has argued＇1＇ that their descriptions are not trustworthy。 But we shall immediately see that it is natural that the feelings which we have here to consider should be expressed in many different ways； inasmuch as various habitual actions serve equally well； through the principle of association； for their expression。
Scorn and disdain； as well as sneering and defiance； may be displayed by a slight uncovering of the canine tooth on one side of the face； and this movement appears to graduate into one closely like a smile。 Or the smile or laugh may be real； although one of derision； and this implies that the offender is so insignificant that he excites only amusement； but the amusement is generally a pretence。 Gaika in his answers to my queries remarks； that contempt is commonly shown by his countrymen； the Kafirs； by smiling； and the Rajah Brooke makes the same observation with respect to the Dyaks of Borneo。 As laughter is primarily the expression of simple joy； very young children do not； I believe； ever laugh in derision。
The partial closure of the eyelids； as Duchenne＇2＇ insists； or the turning away of the eyes or of the whole body； are likewise highly expressive of disdain。 These actions seem to declare that the despised person is not worth looking at or is disagreeable to behold。 The accompanying photograph （Plate V。 fig。 1） by Mr。 Rejlander； shows this form of disdain。 It represents a young lady； who is supposed to be tearing up the photograph of a despised lover。
The most common method of expressing contempt is by movements about the nose； or round the mouth； but the latter movements； when strongly pronounced； indicate disgust。 The nose may be slightly turned up； which apparently follows from the turning up of the upper lip； or the movement may be abbreviated into the mere wrinkling of the nose。 The nose is often slightly contracted； so as partly to close the passage；＇3＇ and this is commonly accompanied by a slight snort or expiration。 All these actions are the same with those which we employ when we perceive an offensive odour； and wish to exclude or expel it。 In extreme cases； as Dr。 Piderit remarks；＇4＇ we protrude and raise both lips； or the upper lip alone； so as to close the nostrils as by a valve； the nose being thus turned up。 We seem thus to say to the despised person that he smells offensively；＇5＇ in nearly the same manner as we express to him by half…closing our eyelids； or turning away our faces； that he is not worth looking at。 It must not； however； be supposed that such ideas actually pass through the mind when we exhibit our contempt； but as whenever we have perceived a disagreeable odour or seen a disagreeable sight； actions of this kind have been performed； they have become habitual or fixed； and are now employed under any analogous state of mind。
＇1＇ ‘De In Physionomie et la Parole；' 1865； p。 89。
＇2＇ ‘Physionomie Humaine；' Album； Legende viii。 p。 35。 Gratiolet also speaks （De la Phys。 1865； p。 52） of the turning away of the eyes and body。
＇3＇ Dr。 W。 Ogle； in an interesting paper on the Sense of Smell （‘Medico…Chirurgical Transactions；' vol。 liii。 p。 268）； shows that when we wish to smell carefully； instead of taking one deep nasal inspiration； we draw in the air by a succession of rapid short sniffs。 If 〃the nostrils be watched during this process； it will be seen that； so far from dilating； they actually contract at each sniff。 The contraction does not include the whole anterior opening； but only the posterior portion。〃 He then explains the cause of this movement。 When； on the other hand； we wish to exclude any odour； the contraction； I presume； affects only the anterior part of the nostrils。
＇4＇ ‘Mimik und Physiognomik；' ss。 84； 93。 Gratiolet （ibid。 p。 155） takes nearly the same view with Dr。 Piderit respecting the expression of contempt and disgust。
＇5＇ Scorn implies a strong form of contempt； and one of the roots of the word ‘scorn' means； according to Mr。 Wedgwood （Dict。 of English Etymology； vol。 iii。 p。 125）； ordure or dirt。 A person who is scorned is treated like dirt。
Various odd little gestures likewise indicate contempt； for instance； _snapping one's fingers_。 This； as Mr。 Taylor remarks；＇6＇ 〃is not very intelligible as we generally see it； but when we notice that the same sign made quite gently； as if rolling some tiny object away between the finger and thumb； or the sign of flipping it away with the thumb…nail and forefinger； are usual and well…understood deaf…and…dumb gestures； denoting anything tiny； insignificant； contemptible； it seems as though we had exaggerated and conventionalized a perfectly natural action； so as to lose sight of its original meaning。 There is a curious mention of this gesture by Strabo。〃 Mr。 Washington Matthews informs me that； with the Dakota Indians of North America； contempt is shown not only by movements of the face； such as those above described； but 〃conventionally； by the hand being closed and held near the breast； then； as the forearm is suddenly extended； the hand is opened and the fingers separated from each other。 If the person at whose expense the sign is made is present； the hand is moved towards him； and the head sometimes averted from him。〃 This sudden extension and opening of the hand perhaps indicates the dropping or throwing away a valueless object。
The term ‘disgust；' in its simplest sense； means something offensive to the taste。 It is curious how readily this feeling is excited by anything unusual in the appearance； odour； or nature of our food。 In Tierra del Fuego a native touched with his finger some cold preserved meat which I was eating at our bivouac； and plainly showed utter disgust at its softness； whilst I felt utter disgust at my food being touched by a naked savage； though his hands did not appear dirty。 A smear of soup on a man's beard looks disgusting； though there is of course nothing disgusting in the soup itself。 I presume that this follows from the strong association in our minds between the sight of food； however circumstanced； and the idea of eating it。
＇6＇ ‘Early History of Mankind；' 2nd edit。 1870； p。 45。
As the sensation of disgust primarily arises in connection with the act of eating or tasting； it is natural that its expression should consist chiefly in movements round the mouth。 But as disgust also causes annoyance； it is generally accompanied by a frown； and often by gestures as if to push away or to guard oneself against the offensive object。 In the two photographs （figs。 2 and 3； on Plate V。） Mr。 Rejlander has simulated this expression with some success。 With respect to the face； moderate disgust is exhibited in various ways； by the mouth being widely opened； as if to let an offensive morsel drop out； by spitting； by blowing out of the protruded lips； or by a sound as of clearing the throat。 Such guttural sounds are written _ach_ or _ugh_； and their utterance is sometimes accompanied by a shudder； the arms being pressed close to the sides and the shoulders raised in the same manner as when horror is experienced。＇7＇ Extreme disgust is expressed by movements round the month identical with those preparatory to the act of vomiting。 The mouth is opened widely； with the upper lip strongly retracted； which wrinkles the sides of the nose； and with the lower lip protruded and everted as much as possible。 This latter movement requires the contraction of the muscles which draw downwards the corners of the mouth。＇8＇
＇7＇ See； to this effect； Mr。 Hensleigh Wedgwood's Introduction to the ‘Dictionary of English Etymology；' 2nd edit。 1872； p。 xxxvii。
It is remarkable how readily and instantly retching or actual vomiting is induced in some persons by the mere idea of having partaken of any unusual food； as of an animal which is not commonly eaten； although there is nothing in such food to cause the stomach to reject it。 When vomiting results； as a reflex action； from some real cause as from too rich food； or tainted meat； or from an emeticit does not ensue immediately； but generally after a considerable interval of time。 Therefore； to account for retching or vomiting being so quickly and easily excited by a mere idea； the suspicion arises that our progenitors must formerly have had the power （like that possessed by ruminants and some other animals） of voluntarily rejecting food which disagreed with them； or which they thought would disagree with them； and now； though this power has been lost； as far as the will is concerned； it is called into involuntary action； through the force of a formerly well…established habit； whenever the mind revolts at the idea of having partaken of any kind of food； or at anything disgusting。 This suspicion receives support from the fact； of which I am assured by Mr。 Sutton； that the monkeys in the Zoological Gardens often vomit whilst in pe
