ABSTRACT
Humans have a finely developed repertoire of emotional responses, and, although our experiences are intensely personal, we can share our emotions with, and recognise the emotional states of, fellow humans. However, if we take a cross-cultural perspective, are the ways in which we express our emotions with gestures and facial expressions, and recognise them accordingly, universal or culturally determined? Put simply, is a smile a smile in any part of the world or are there cultures where a smile might mean ‘I am angry’ or ‘I am sad’? In answer to this we must note that there is now abundant evidence that the forms in which we express our emotions are universal features of human nature.
