Emotions Matter

 Studies on the emotions and acts of human beings and animals are continuing since pre historic days. In a gradual succession human beings tried to separate themselves from the main biotic nexus of the naturally prevailing habitations at different places. Conflicts regarding exercise of establishing a hold on biotic and abiotic resources has initiated from that moment onwards.

The Physiology or ‘Mechanism of Blushing,’ by Dr. Burgess, appeared in 1839. Dr. Duchenne clearly apprehended this and other sources of error, and as it is known that he was eminently successful in elucidating the physiology of the muscles of the hand by the aid of electricity, it is probable that he is generally in the right about the muscles of the face. In my opinion, Dr. Duchenne has greatly advanced the subject by his treatment of it.

A distinguished French anatomist, Pierre Gratiolet, gave a course of lectures on Expression at the Sorbonne, and his notes were published (1865) after his death, under the title of ‘De la Physionomie et des Mouvements d’Expression.’

Gratiolet appears to overlook inherited habit, and even to some extent habit in the individual; and therefore he fails, as it seems to me, to give the right explanation, or any explanation at all, of many gestures and expressions.

Dr. Piderit published in 1859 an essay on Expression, which I have not seen, but in which, as he states, he forestalled Gratiolet in many of his views. In 1867 he published his ‘Wissenschaftliches System der Mimik und Physiognomik.’

The following two sentences will tell as much as can be briefly told: “the muscular movements of expression are in part related to imaginary objects, and in part to imaginary sensorial impressions. In this proposition lies the key to the comprehension of all expressive muscular movements.” (s. 25) Again, “Expressive movements manifest themselves chiefly in the numerous and mobile muscles of the face, partly because the nerves by which they are set into motion originate in the most immediate vicinity of the mind-organ, but partly also because these muscles serve to support the organs of sense.”

Mr. Bain says, “I look upon the expression so-called as part and parcel of the feeling. I believe it to be a general law of the mind that along with the fact of inward feeling or consciousness, there is a diffusive action or excitement over the bodily members.” In another place he adds, “A very considerable number of the facts may be brought under the following principle: namely, that states of pleasure are connected with an increase, and states of pain with an abatement, of some, or all, of the vital functions.”

Mr. Herbert Spencer[1], in his ‘Principles of Psychology’ (1855), makes the following remarks:—“Fear, when strong, expresses itself in cries, in efforts to hide or escape, in palpitations and trembling; and these are just the manifestations that would accompany an actual experience of the evil feared. The destructive passions are shown in a general tension of the muscular system, in gnashing of the teeth and protrusion of the claws, in dilated eyes and nostrils in growls; and these are weaker forms of the actions that accompany the killing of prey.”

 

Mr. Spencer appear to have been firmly convinced that species, man of course included, came into existence in their present condition. Sir C. Bell, being thus convinced, maintains that many of our facial muscles are “purely instrumental in expression;” or are “a special provision” for this sole object.

Sir C. Bell evidently wished to draw as broad a distinction as possible between man and the lower animals; and he consequently asserts that with “the lower creatures there is no expression but what may be referred, more or less plainly, to their acts of volition or necessary instincts.”

Dr. Duchenne, after speaking of the movements of the limbs, refers to those which give expression to the face. An illustrious physiologist Müller, says, “The completely different expression of the features in different passions shows that, according to the kind of feeling excited, entirely different groups of the fibres of the facial nerve are acted on. Of the cause of this we are quite ignorant.”

Acts and conducts of animals are advanced on the ground of their emotional set up and of their ancestral affinity towards certain performances. During the stage of nourishment young animals rely to a greater extent on its mother. The change in attitude is advanced in due course of time.[2]

Often we start imagine about advent of some extraordinary events or some unexpected things in reality. Being inflicted with certain imagination we often think about some events which may appear absurd in real sense. We imagine some human encounters with tiger and try to prove the bravery of human beings by keeping the down play of tiger in the imaginary realm of interactions. Our imagination is another and still more serious source of error; for if from the nature of the circumstances we expect to see any expression, we acknowledge presence of some peculiar tasks in real life, we intend to establish our act of supremacy over animals,  we readily imagine its presence in real life situation. Notwithstanding Dr. Duchenne’s great experience, he for a long time fancied, as he states, that several muscles contracted under certain emotions, whereas he ultimately convinced himself that the movement was confined to a single muscle.

While explaining the hidden facts behind the affinity with which animals exhibit many emotions, as Sir C. Bell remarks, “with extraordinary force;” whereas, in after life, some of our expressions “cease to have the pure and simple source from which they spring in infancy.”

Prof. Huxley remarks (‘Elementary Physiology,’ 5th edit. p. 305) that reflex actions proper to the spinal cord are natural; but, by the help of the brain, that is through habit, an infinity of artificial reflex actions may be acquired. Virchow admits[3] that some reflex actions can hardly be distinguished from instincts; and, of the latter, it may be added, some acts and conducts cannot be distinguished from inherited habits. It is difficult to determine, with certainty, what are the movements of the features and of the body, which commonly characterize certain states of the mind. Nevertheless, some of the doubts and difficulties have, as I hope, been cleared away by the observation of infants, of the insane,  of the different races of man, of works of art and lastly, of the facial muscles under the action of galvanism, as effected by Dr. Duchenne.

                One must learn the science of emotions and gestures for acquainting oneself with the wishes and wants of an animal having no power to express their feelings in the form of dialects.[4]

                We came at the terminal of our discussion regarding conservation strategies and human aspirations associated with it. Through all our discussions, regarding implements of Golden Triangle, Aspiration of the Ark people and involvement of Native Indians in the effort of making our environment a suitable place of living, we came to a state of understanding where the essence of imparting people from various walks of life for making conservation strategy a successful one is becoming an established fact. Cost of the deforestation at the rate of the loss of non-replaceable resource is the most strategic concern through which loss of the natural habitat of animals and birds is also advanced.

Participation of people for the purpose of attaining success will be accomplishable only through incorporating aspirations of people in the monitoring and evaluation diagram duly prepared by the conservators and allied agencies. Acts and conducts should have adequate access to people from various walks of life. Operational areas of Joint Forest Management should be increased to such extent for incorporating areas of social Forestry, Natural Forestry and other non-reserve canopy.

                Joint initiatives with an attentiveness of linking people with the main productivity nexus will be desired state for any nation to accomplish. All development programmes and strategic interventions are accorded to bring forth such desired results in reality. India, having a balanced democratic governance, can bring success through such desired participatory efforts. It is also expected that people with an enhanced level of understanding can materialise conservation strategies in a better way.

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[1] Since the publication of the essay just referred to, Mr. Spencer has written another, on “Morals and Moral Sentiments,” in the ‘Fortnightly Review,’ April 1, 1871, p. 426. He has, also, now published his final conclusions in vol. ii. of the second edit. of the ‘Principles of Psychology,’ 1872, p. 539. I may state, in order that I may not be accused of trespassing on Mr. Spencer’s domain, that I announced in my ‘Descent of Man,’ that I had then written a part of the present volume: my first MS. notes on the subject of expression bear the date of the year 1838. Mr. Spencer (‘Essays,’ Second Series, 1863, p. 138) has drawn a clear distinction between emotions and sensations, the latter being “generated in our corporeal framework.” He classes as Feelings both emotions and-sensations.

[2] A remark to much the same effect was made long ago by Hippocrates and by the illustrious Harvey; for both assert that a young animal forgets in the course of a few days the art of sucking, and cannot without some difficulty again acquire it. I give these assertions on the authority of Dr. Darwin, ‘Zoonomia,’ 1794, vol. i. p. 140.

The Senses and the Intellect,’ 2nd edit. 1864, p. 332. Prof. Huxley remarks (‘Elementary Lessons in Physiology,’ 5th edit. 1872, p. 306), “It may be laid down as a rule, that, if any two mental states be called up together, or in succession, with due frequency and vividness, the subsequent production of the one of them will suffice to call up the other, and that whether we desire it or not.

[3] ‘Sammlung wissenschaft. Vorträge,’ &c., “Ueber das Rückenmark,” 1871, ss. 24, 31

[4] Dr. W. R. Scott’s interesting work, ‘The Deaf and Dumb,’ 2nd edit. 1870, p. 12. He says, “This contracting of natural gestures into much shorter gestures than the natural expression requires, is very common amongst the deaf and dumb. This contracted gesture is frequently so shortened as nearly to lose all semblance of the natural one, but to the deaf and dumb who use it, it still has the force of the original expression.”