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Loosening the leash: The unique emotional canvas of human screams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2023

Harold Gouzoules ,
Jonathan W. M. Engelberg  and
Jay W. Schwartz
Harold Gouzoules
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA psyhg@emory.edu
Jonathan W. M. Engelberg
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Comparative Primate Cognition, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; jonathan.engelberg@emory.edu
Jay W. Schwartz
Affiliation:
Behavioral Sciences Division, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR 97361, USA. schwartzj@mail.wou.edu
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Abstract

We use screams to explore ideas presented in the target article. Evolving first in animals as a response to predation, screams reveal more complex social use in nonhuman primates and, in humans, uniquely, are associated with a much greater variety of emotional contexts including fear, anger, surprise, and happiness. This expansion, and the potential for manipulation, promotes listener social vigilance.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 46 , 2023 , e10
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press

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