The Socialization of Emotion

Abstract

In the study of emotion, a large amount of effort has been expended in measuring emotional behavior and tracing its developmental course. In general, the guiding principle of this task has been the assumption of biological models that posit a fixed and universal connection between facial expressions and emotions. Following Darwin (1872), many investigators have focused on the measurement of infants’ facial expressions and occasionally on the connection between stimuli (situations) and emotions as expressed in the face (e.g., Ekman et al., 1972; Emde et al., 1976; Izard, 1977; Tomkins, 1962, 1963). Less often, the affective qualities of vocal behavior and bodily responses are examined (e.g., Argyle, 1982; Buck, 1982; Scherer, 1979, 1982; see also Chapter 8).

Not only ideas, but emotions too, are cultural artifacts.

Geertz, 1973, p. 81