Jingjie Yang
PSY1000
Article Summary 3
Constants across Cultures in the Face and Emotion
1. Citation
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (January 01, 1971). Constants across cultures in the face and
emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 17, 2, 124-129.
2. Summary
The basic question in this study seeks to analyze whether any facial expression of
emotion is universal for a human being or specific to different cultures. It was argued that
facial behaviors were associated with emotion. According to Birdwhistell (1963), there was
no possibility of universal facial behaviors. However, Ekman (1968) came up with
distinguishing factors of facial behavior elements that are universal and those that are for
individual cultures. They found that universal is found in distinguishing patterns in
relationships for instance interest, anger, happiness, sadness, and surprise among others. On
the other hand, they suggested that cultural differences would be a result of the elicitor of
particular emotions. The aim was to test whether the preliterate culture would identify the
same emotion concepts as literate Eastern and Western Cultures.
3. Experimental Design and Methodology
The study was a true experimental because a study was conducted and the results were
monitored. The dependent variable was the still pictures while the independent variable was
responses from various people. The main purpose of the study was to see if different groups
would identify the same pictures with the same emotion. United State, Chile, Japan,
Argentina was found to identify the same pictures with the same emotions. Another
experiment on people who had no exposure to the Western and did not understand English
and who were visually isolated was carried out. Six emotions were studied and were carried
out to identify which was discriminable within the literate culture.
4. Results
In most experiments, the hypothesis was supported. It was discovered that there was an
existence of universal facial behavior since different cultures identified the same pictures for
the same emotions. However, it was found that the media might have influenced the
PSY1000
Article Summary 3
Constants across Cultures in the Face and Emotion
1. Citation
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (January 01, 1971). Constants across cultures in the face and
emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 17, 2, 124-129.
2. Summary
The basic question in this study seeks to analyze whether any facial expression of
emotion is universal for a human being or specific to different cultures. It was argued that
facial behaviors were associated with emotion. According to Birdwhistell (1963), there was
no possibility of universal facial behaviors. However, Ekman (1968) came up with
distinguishing factors of facial behavior elements that are universal and those that are for
individual cultures. They found that universal is found in distinguishing patterns in
relationships for instance interest, anger, happiness, sadness, and surprise among others. On
the other hand, they suggested that cultural differences would be a result of the elicitor of
particular emotions. The aim was to test whether the preliterate culture would identify the
same emotion concepts as literate Eastern and Western Cultures.
3. Experimental Design and Methodology
The study was a true experimental because a study was conducted and the results were
monitored. The dependent variable was the still pictures while the independent variable was
responses from various people. The main purpose of the study was to see if different groups
would identify the same pictures with the same emotion. United State, Chile, Japan,
Argentina was found to identify the same pictures with the same emotions. Another
experiment on people who had no exposure to the Western and did not understand English
and who were visually isolated was carried out. Six emotions were studied and were carried
out to identify which was discriminable within the literate culture.
4. Results
In most experiments, the hypothesis was supported. It was discovered that there was an
existence of universal facial behavior since different cultures identified the same pictures for
the same emotions. However, it was found that the media might have influenced the
