Ekman, P., & Friesen, W.V. (1971). Constants across Cultures in the Face and Emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 17(2), pp. 124-129.
Arhe Vaninetti
Research Methods and Statistics, PSY301, Pacific University, Oregon
March 20, 2023
In Ekman & Friesen’s (1971) study on the universality of facial expressions and emotionality, they aimed to build off of pre-existing research on facial emotions with the additional aim of establishing universality. Within the introduction, the researchers claim that literate subjects in prior studies may have benefitted from media knowledge of facial expressions. Additionally, the researchers stated that other literature argued that universality in facial expressions was either impossible, or established due to specific cultural needs in certain areas (but not others). Ekman & Friesen chose to refute these claims in their 1971 study based on preliterate subjects’ knowledge of associated facial expressions in reaction to a story. Continue reading “Ekman & Friesen (1971) Critique: “Constants across Cultures in the Face and Emotion””