Manfred Holodynski: The Development of Emotion and Expression

The Development of Emotion and Expression.The Development of Emotion and Expression.From Biological to Cultural InheritanceFrom Biological to Cultural Inheritance

Manfred HolodynskiManfred HolodynskiUniversität BielefeldUniversität Bielefeld

ConferenceConferenceEmotions: Synthesizers of Culture and BiologyEmotions: Synthesizers of Culture and Biology

Interdisciplinary ApproachesInterdisciplinary ApproachesMarch 29 - 31, 2004March 29 - 31, 2004

Center for Interdisciplinary Research, BielefeldCenter for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld

Manfred Holodynski: The Development of Emotion and Expression

The Development of Emotion and Expression.The Development of Emotion and Expression.From Biological to Cultural InheritanceFrom Biological to Cultural Inheritance

Manfred HolodynskiManfred Holodynski

1. Problem: How far are emotions culturally shaped?

2. Two controversial positions

3. The benefits of a developmental analysis of emotions

4. How culture enters into emotional development


How far are emotions culturally shaped? How far are emotions culturally shaped? The strong biological positionThe strong biological position

Position:• There is a biologically based set of basic emotions such as fear, anger,

joy, interest, sadness, disgust.

• Every emotion has a particular adaptive function

• appraisal of a situation in relation to personal motive

• elicitation of a motive-serving action readiness

• Action readinesses are fixed reaction syndroms of expression, body reaction and feeling

(Ekman, 1972; Izard, 1977; Panksepp, 1998)

Empirical evidence:• Set of basic emotions are universal for all human beings in every culture

• Some emotions are shared with mammals


How far are emotions culturally shaped?How far are emotions culturally shaped? The strong cultural position The strong cultural position

Position:• Human beings are able to use symbols. This enables them to create, adopt,

and modify meaning systems that are handed down from one generation to the next.

• The adaptive function of emotions (appraisal and action readiness) depends on these culturally evolved meaning systems.

• Therefore, emotions are culturally learned reaction syndroms(Averill, 1986; Harré, 1986).

Empirical evidence:

• The failure to find convergencies between expression, body reaction, and feeling

• The diversity of culture specific emotions


On the path toward integrative models of emotionOn the path toward integrative models of emotionOne problem and a strategy for solving itOne problem and a strategy for solving it

State of the art:• Both extrem positions symplify the relations between the biological and

cultural aspects of adult emotions.

• This requires the construction of more complex models on adult emotion.

Methodological problem:• Complex models contain so many degrees of freedom that they can be

made to fit (almost) any empirical data.

• How can we test complex psychological models?

One strategy to solve the problem:• A developmental analysis of ontogenesis as a strategy to test complex

models on adult emotion.


A selection of complex models on emotionA selection of complex models on emotion


On the path toward integrative models on emotion On the path toward integrative models on emotion What are the benefits of a developmental analysis of emotions?What are the benefits of a developmental analysis of emotions?

Every complex structure of emotions assumed in adults must be the product of an ontogenetic development, and must have emerge from a comparably simple structure in neonates.

• One can observe which feature is an initial one and which an evolved one.

• One can observe how far initial features continue to exist in the evolved structure.

• A successful empirical reconstruction of the development is also a proof for the adult model of emotion.


Adult

Emotion

Emotion-BasedAction

Context

Context

Cause Perception

Reflective Regulation Processes

Feeling asFeedbackSensation

Motives

IS PS

Feeling asconsciousEmotion

Appraisal

Problem-BasedAction

BodyRegulation Expression

TransformInto Action

GoalsExpectations

GoalCommitment

V2

V3

R1

R2

R2

A

E2

E1

E1 V1

E3

E4

E5

E5

E6

E6

OnOn thethe pathpath towardtoward integrativeintegrative modelsmodels onon emotion emotion What areWhat are the benefitsthe benefits of a of a developmentaldevelopmental analysisanalysis of of emotionsemotions??

Every complex structure of emotions assumed in adults must be the product of an ontogenetic development, and must have emerge from a comparably simple structurein neonates.

• One can observe which feature is an initial one and which an evolved one.

• A successful empirical reconstruction of the development is also a proof for the adult model of emotion.

• One can observe how far initial features continue to exist in the evolved structure.

Infant

Emotion

Cause Perception

Feeling asFeedbackSensation

Motives

IS PS Appraisal

BodyRegulation Expression

E2

E1

E1

E3

A developmental analysis of emotionsA developmental analysis of emotions

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Infant

Preschooler

Child

Interpersonal regulation

Intrapersonal regulation


Internalization of expression signs

Neonate

Adult

Symbolization of expression signs

Functional differentiation of sign use:Expression: Expressed feeling: appeal to others appeal to oneself

Precursor emotions:Expressions have

sign function

Age group

Emergence of culturally shaped

emotions


A developmental analysis of emotionsA developmental analysis of emotions1. Precursor emotions of neonates1. Precursor emotions of neonates

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Infant

Preschooler

Child




Neonate

Adult


sign function

Age group


1. Precursor emotions in neonates1. Precursor emotions in neonatesWhy they are not fully functioning emotionsWhy they are not fully functioning emotions

Distress PleasureInterest Fearful tention Disgust

Features of neonates‘ precursor emotions (Sroufe, 1996):• Triggered by absolute physical stimulus thresholds - not by any attributions of

meaning like emotions

• Expressive and body reactions are not coordinated with cause and context - an emotion is directed toward its cause and consists of a fine-tuned expression.

• Long onset and offset - emotions are triggered promptly


1. Precursor emotions in neonates 1. Precursor emotions in neonates Their function: They regulate the actions of caregiversTheir function: They regulate the actions of caregivers




Adult

1. 1. Precursor emotions Precursor emotions in in neonates neonates TheirTheir functionfunction: : They regulate the actionsThey regulate the actions of of caregiverscaregivers

.

Cause

Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.

Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.




Adult

1. 1. Precursor emotions Precursor emotions in in neonates neonates TheirTheir functionfunction: : They regulate the actionsThey regulate the actions of of caregiverscaregivers

.

Cause

Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.

Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.




1. Precursor emotions in neonates1. Precursor emotions in neonatesFunction of Expressions: Signs refering to emotionsFunction of Expressions: Signs refering to emotions

MeaningMeaning

ObjectObject1.1. Feeling state/appraisalFeeling state/appraisal2.2. Action readinessAction readiness

SignSign

AppealThe other should act:Help me, I am helpless!

Symptom1. I feel bad2. I‘ll continue crying

ExpressiveExpressivepatternpattern


1. Precursor emotions of neonates1. Precursor emotions of neonatesHow does emotions emerge from precursor emotions?How does emotions emerge from precursor emotions?

Distress Endogenes SmileInterest Fearful tension Disgust

• Maturation ?

• Coregulation between child and caregiver !


Affection

Anger Pride Embarrassment

A developmental analysis of emotionsA developmental analysis of emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions (0 - 3 years)2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions (0 - 3 years)


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Infant

Preschooler

Child




Neonate

Adult


sign function

Age group


emotions

2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions 2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions Coregulation between caregiver and childCoregulation between caregiver and child

Coregulation between caregiver‘s intuitive parenting (Papoušek & Papoušek, 1987) and child‘s contingency learning:

1. Infant/caregiver arranges situations in which the infant can have new experiences.

2. Infant appraises the novel situation only generally and react with some uncoordinated body reactions and expressions.

3. Caregiver interprets infant‘s expression as sign referring to emotions.

4. She acts on behalf of her infant in line with her interpretation.

5. Infants are sensitive toward temporal, sensory, and spatial contingencies.

6. Infant combines particular cause, expression, and impact on caregiver to form a particular emotion with well-coordinated expression signs.


2.2. EmergenceEmergence ofof culturally shaped emotions culturally shaped emotions Coregulation between caregiverCoregulation between caregiver and and childchild








Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.Body react.


Study on 1-, 4- and 7-month-old babies, whose arms were restrained (Stenberg and Campos, 1990)

1-month-old: distress– Series of undifferentiated negative facial expressions before starting to cry– Unfocused gaze behavior, closed eyes while crying– Long onset and offset after letting go of the arms

4-month-old: frustration– (able to infer cause-effect relations)– Head and gaze directed toward the face or hand of the person restraining the arm– Drawn eyebrows, open rectangular mouth, and then crying– Medium onset and offset

7-month-old: anger – (able to ascribe intentions to others)– Like 4-month-old, plus– Gaze shifted from the hand to attendant mother (call for assistance)– Prompt onset and offset

2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions The differentiation of distress expressionsThe differentiation of distress expressions


2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions How culture enters into emotions: The symbolization of expressionHow culture enters into emotions: The symbolization of expression

MeaningMeaning

ObjectObject1.1. AppraisalAppraisal2.2. Action readinessAction readiness

SignSign

AppealThe other should act:Hold off! Give way!

Symptom1. I feel threatened2. I am ready to attack

SymbolI act as if this is the way it is

ExpressiveExpressivepatternpattern


2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions 2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions Culturally evolved lexicon of expression signsCulturally evolved lexicon of expression signs


• Expression symbols can be modified in line with the formation of new emotional appraisals and action readinesses.

• Expression signs are iconically coded - the sign is similar to its meaning.

• Culturally evolved expression symbols can be handed down to the next generation.

2.2. EmergenceEmergence ofof culturally shaped emotions culturally shaped emotions Coregulation between caregiverCoregulation between caregiver and and childchild








Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action



2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions 2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions Symbolization of expression signsSymbolization of expression signs

The interplay between affect attunement and imitative learning (Stern, 1992; Gergely & Watson, 1999):

1. Caregiver mirrors infant‘s expression in a symbolized manner (affect attunement).


2. Infants are able to imitate their caregivers‘ expressions.

3. Affect attunement functions like „biofeedback“ training: Infant develops a sensitivity to connecting symbolized expressions with the appraised cause and his own expressions and feelings

4. Effect: Use of expression signs as symbols as in emotional referencing.

2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions Emotional referencing: Using expressions as symbolsEmotional referencing: Using expressions as symbols

Studies on infants from 10 month onward (Klinnert et al., 1983; Walden, 1991)


• Caregivers can choose situations in which children can make new emotion related experiences.

• Caregivers interpret infants‘ expressions and react in line with culturally (but also individually) shaped experiences and norms.

• Caregivers can choose which expressions they will ignore and which they will mirror.

• To some extent, they can choose the actions with which they will react to the infant‘s expression signs.

• Effect: an over- or underrepresentation of particular expressions and their corresponding emotions in children from particular cultures.

2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions How culture enters into emotionsHow culture enters into emotions


2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions2. Emergence of culturally shaped emotions The emergence of emotions in Western culturesThe emergence of emotions in Western cultures

Newborn 0 - 1 year 1 - 3 years 3 - 6 years Adult


adopted from Sroufe (1996)and supplemented

A development analysis of emotionsA development analysis of emotions3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulation3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulation

(2 - 6 years)(2 - 6 years)ticp0vf3.ins

Infant

Preschooler

Child




Neonate

Adult



sign function

Age group


emotions


3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulation3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulationDifferentiation of sign useDifferentiation of sign use

In fact, the general course of

emotional development may be

described as movement from

dyadic regulation to self-regulation

of emotion. (Sroufe, 1996, p. 151)

Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.




Action

Child

3. 3. Emergence Emergence of of intrapersonal intrapersonal out of interpersonal out of interpersonal regulationregulationDifferentiation Differentiation of of sign usesign use

In fact, the general course of

emotional development may be

described as movement from

dyadic regulation to self-regulation

of emotion. (Sroufe, 1996, p. 151)

Cause

Infant Adult

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.

Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action

Body react.




Action

3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulation3. Emergence of intrapersonal out of interpersonal regulationA longitudinal study of preschoolersA longitudinal study of preschoolers

• Longitudinal study of 18 children from 4 to 6 years (Holodynski & Upmann, 2003)

• Induction of disappointment in a solitary situation

Child‘s action


What kind of action follows the induced emotion?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

4 years 5 years 6 years

Per

cen

tag

e o

f C

hild

ren

social centered

problem centered

dim inishing fee lings

A developmental analysis of emotionsA developmental analysis of emotions

ticp0vf3.ins

Infant

Preschooler

Child




Internalization of expression signs

Neonate

Adult

Symbolization of expression signs



sign function

Age group


emotions


The Development of Emotion and Expression.The Development of Emotion and Expression.From Biological to Cultural Inheritance From Biological to Cultural Inheritance

ConclusionsConclusions

1. A developmental analysis of emotions: A strategy to test complex models of emotions

2. Biological inheritance: Precursor emotions of neonates designed for

interpersonal regulation use as signs

Infant‘s capacity to detect contingencies Infant‘s capacity for imitative learning Caregiver‘s intuitive parenting

Sensitivity to the appeal function of expression signs Affect attunement of infant‘s emotion (mirroring infant‘s

expression in a symbolized manner)



ConclusionsConclusions

3. Cultural inheritance: Intrapersonal regulation of actions in adults through emotions emerges

from interpersonal regulation in childhood. Features of interpersonal regulation continue to exist in intrapersonal

regulation in adults: Expressions are used predominantly as signs. Expression signs refer to particular emotional appraisals and

action readinesses Expression signs have an appeal function

To others in interpersonal regulation

To oneself in intrapersonal regulation



ConclusionsConclusions3. Cultural inheritance:

Expression signs are the gate culture enters into emotional processing: They can be transformed into symbols. Cultural plane: Symbolization permits the formation of culturally

shaped emotions.Mechanism: Formation of new expression symbols in line with the formation of new emotional appraisals and action readinesses(e. g. kneeling to express humility)

Individual plane: Acquisition of culturally shaped expressions and their meaning is the way in which persons learn culturally shaped emotions.

Acquisition takes places in coregulation between caregiver and child from the first day of life onward.Mechanisms:

Synchronization of cause, expression and actions

Interplay between caregiver‘s affect attunement and child‘s imitative learning




Thank you very much for your attention!

Infant Adult

A Developmental Analysis of EmotionsA Developmental Analysis of EmotionsFeelings derived from internal feedback of expression and body reactions Feelings derived from internal feedback of expression and body reactions

(Damasios somatic marker concept)(Damasios somatic marker concept)

Manfred Holodynski: Internalisierungsmodell der emotionalen Entwicklung

Some evidence for a somatic marker concept of feeling:• Phenomenologically, feelings consist of bodily and expressive sensations (James, 1890)• Developmental perspective: Expressive sensations from interpersonal regulation can also be

used for intrapersonal regulation • Evolution of the feeling system: A feedback system is a more parsimonious construction • Expression and impression draw on the same expressive sensations (affect attunement:

Stern, 1992; motor mimikry: Hatfield, Cacioppo & Rapson, 1994) • Damage to somatosensory brain regions impairs the experience of feelings (Damasio, 1994)

Cause Feeling

Expression

Appraisal

Feeling

Expression

Appraisal Action


4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressions4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressionsThe phenomenonThe phenomenon

This person is alone and she feels happy - but one cannot observe any

signs of happiness (!) Manfred Holodynski: Internalisierungsmodell der emotionalen Entwicklung

4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressions4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressionsThe explanationThe explanation

1. In interpersonal regulation, signs need to be perceivable to other people in order to appeal to them.

2. In intrapersonal regulation, signs do not need to be perceivable to others. Appealing to oneself is possible only through mental signs such as an inner smile or a special body sensation.

3. Signs can change their form without changing their meaning and function.The written word “expression” and the spoken word “expression“: different form, but the same meaning.

4. In intrapersonal regulation, signs adapt their form to their new intrapersonal function: materialized expressions miniaturized expressions mental expressions.

5. In the development of speech signs, such a miniaturization effect has been verified sufficiently (first reported by Vygotskij, 1934; Bivens & Berk, 1990):communicative speech private speech inner speech



Social Condition

SolitaryCondition

4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressions4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressionsStudy 1: Expression of Disappointment in 6- and 7-years-oldStudy 1: Expression of Disappointment in 6- and 7-years-old


4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressions4. Emergence of feelings without (objective) expressionsStudy 1: Results for joy and disappointmentStudy 1: Results for joy and disappointment

(Holodynski, 2004)


4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) Expressions4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) ExpressionsStudy 2: Internalization or Miniaturization?Study 2: Internalization or Miniaturization?

(von Olberg, 1999)(von Olberg, 1999)

Emotional episode felt Joy (of meeting again) Pride (in success)

Judged emotional expression(by 10 observers)

Joyn = 9

Neutraln = 15

Pride/Joyn = 1 / 3

Neutraln = 20

Judged intensity of expression(scale ranged form 0 to 9)

M = 2.1 M = 0.3 M = 2.5 / 1.1 M = 0.4

Self rating of felt intensity(scale ranged form 0 to 9)

M = 6.1 M = 5.9 M = 7.0 / 6.3 M = 6.3


Percentage of persons with no expression of joy (n = 15) or pride (n = 20) as a function of the reported sign of experience

4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) Expressions4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) ExpressionsStudy 2: Internalization or Miniaturization?Study 2: Internalization or Miniaturization?


Participants• 42 women from Spain

• 37 women from Eastwestfalia

Diary Design• Document all emotion episodes

within a day for 4 days of a week

Measurement• Quality, intensity of expression

• Quality, intensity of feeling

• Context

• Control of expression

4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) Expressions4. Emergence of Feelings Without (Objective) ExpressionsStudy 3: Diary Study in „Eastwestfalia and Southern SpainStudy 3: Diary Study in „Eastwestfalia and Southern Spain

Manfred Holodynski: The Development of Emotion and Expression

Documents

based set of basic emotions

body reaction

human beings

reaction syndroms averill

synthesizers of culture

bielefeldmanfred holodynski

adaptive functions

meaningmanfred holodynski