ABSTRACT
Studies of emotion and emotion communication are revolutionizing our understanding of social psychology, allowing a considerably expanded, deeper, and more comprehensive appreciation of human nature than has been possible previously. Emotion is at the same time an individual phenomenon, related to specifiable neurochemical systems in the brain that are genetically based and controlled, and a social phenomenon that is displayed, communicated, and basic to fundamental social organization. Furthermore, these aspects of emotion interact: the genetic-physiological basis is modulated by experiences in emotional communication. Emotion is the quintessence of a bridging concept, reaching down to the genes and up to social structure, and relevant to everything in between.
