Body Language

Paper Summary:

This paper compares two divergent views of unspoken communication, known of late as body language. The earlier work is by Charles Darwin first published in 1872, the later is a publication by Julius Fast, published nearly one hundred years later. The paper discusses how, although the meaning of the expressive language is essentially the same, the roots and origins of these emotions are interpreted differently by the two authors. These differences and contrasting opinions are reviewed and explained.

From the Paper:

"There is a fascinating contrast between the interpretations of non-verbal cues as observed by a nineteenth century observers and similar observations that are the beneficiary of nearly a century of psychological investigations. Charles Darwin (1965) conducted extensive observations of the expression of emotions by both humans and animals and concluded that similar emotions are expressed in similar manners regardless of the cultural background of the individual conveying their emotions (p.347). Julius Fast relates similar conclusions, except he has the benefit of the psychological theorems developed in the proceeding hundred years (Fast, 1970, p.9). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Darwin, C. (1965). The expression of the emotions in man and animals. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
• Fast, J. (1970). Body language: the essential secrets of non-verbal communication. New York: MJF Books.

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