Human mannerisms and non-verbal communication

[Xarog]

On the one end of the scale, we smile when we're happy and we cry when we're not. These things appear to be universal to the human race (and even typical among some of the great apes).

On the other end, you had to ask someone what it meant when they showed you a fist with their middle finger being the only one extended.

So my question is : To what degree is our non-verbal communication determined by genetics, and to what degree is it learned?

If I nod my head in a certain direction as if to say "go on, take it", would you know what I meant if you'd never seen anyone else do it before?

[TMoose]

On the one end of the scale, we smile when we're happy and we cry when we're not. These things appear to be universal to the human race (and even typical among some of the great apes).

On the other end, you had to ask someone what it meant when they showed you a fist with their middle finger being the only one extended.

So my question is : To what degree is our non-verbal communication determined by genetics, and to what degree is it learned?

If I nod my head in a certain direction as if to say "go on, take it", would you know what I meant if you'd never seen anyone else do it before?

Is laughter a genetic thing though? Isn't it also something we pick up as babies when adults smile at us and pull funny faces and so on? If your parents never smiled or laughed in your presence growing up and you never met any people who did it... I wonder if you'd still do it. Crying on the other hand is something we seem to be pretty good at.

Interesting thread.

[Xarog]

Is laughter a genetic thing though? Isn't it also something we pick up as babies when adults smile at us and pull funny faces and so on? If your parents never smiled or laughed in your presence growing up and you never met any people who did it... I wonder if you'd still do it. Crying on the other hand is something we seem to be pretty good at.

Interesting thread.

Well, chimpanzees for instance also smile alot when they're playing games and so forth.

Without going to look for scientific articles, I would be amazed if it wasn't genetically programmed. I've seen 'intelligence' tests where they give you a facial expression and ask you what the people with those expressions are thinking/feeling. If those were abstract and indecisive, people would argue over what a given look means. But we don't. We can argue over what the look was, but there seems to be remarkably universal reactions when it comes to facial expressions.

Some cultures express 'yes' by shaking their head. I've never ever heard of anyone frowning when they found something funny. And to really drive the point home, if laughter wasn't a genetic response, wouldn't we be able to switch it off despite finding something absolutely hilarious? I've laughed so hard in my life before that I was honestly afraid I was going to pass out because I couldn't stop myself laughing long enough to draw breath.

[Tux]

Be sure not to show any ape teeth when you smile. You'd get your ass handed to you on a plate. Showing teeth has aggressive connotations to them

[Xarog]

As it does for humans, in the right circumstances. Gritting your teeth can also be a show of anger.

But then let's give one that is irrefutable largely because it's largely subconcious : Blushing. We have little to no control over it, and yet we know very well why another person blushes (though admittedly the CAUSE of the blush might be a learned thing).