As humans we tend to consider ourselves to be unique snowflakes — all with our own distinct feelings and emotions — but a new study says we may not actually have that many emotions to choose from.
The research, from the University of Glasgow, says that humans have just four basic emotions — that down from the six humans we’re believed to have.
Traditionally those included happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and sadness — but after observing reactions to faces exemplifying those emotions researchers now say there’s some overlap.
To get to their findings researchers had participants examine computer-generated facial-animations, then categorize them into one of the six emotions. (Via University of Glasgow)
What they found was anger and disgust, as well as fear and surprise, looked very similar to the participants at first glance — and it took a minute to discern the difference. (Via Slate)
So, what does that tell the researchers?
According to a writer for The Atlantic, that humans only have four biologically-based facial signals — with additional nuances evolving in response to social cues.
She quotes the study authors who wrote, "Our data reflect that the six basic facial expressions of emotion, like languages, are likely to represent a more complex set of modern signals and categories evolved from a simpler system of communication in early man.”
According to the study that leaves us with the four basic emotions of happiness, sadness, and hybrids of fear and surprise, and anger and disgust. Their research was published in the journal Current Biology.
