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Facial expression is a group cohesion solution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2025

Bridget M. Waller Open the ORCID record for Bridget M. Waller [Opens in a new window] ,
Jamie Whitehouse Open the ORCID record for Jamie Whitehouse [Opens in a new window]  and
Eithne Kavanagh Open the ORCID record for Eithne Kavanagh [Opens in a new window]
Bridget M. Waller*
Affiliation:
Nottingham Trent University , Nottingham, UK bridget.waller@ntu.ac.uk jamie.whitehouse@ntu.ac.uk eithne.kavanagh@ntu.ac.uk
Jamie Whitehouse
Affiliation:
Nottingham Trent University , Nottingham, UK bridget.waller@ntu.ac.uk jamie.whitehouse@ntu.ac.uk eithne.kavanagh@ntu.ac.uk
Eithne Kavanagh
Affiliation:
Nottingham Trent University , Nottingham, UK bridget.waller@ntu.ac.uk jamie.whitehouse@ntu.ac.uk eithne.kavanagh@ntu.ac.uk
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Facial expression has evolved as a solution to the primate group living problem. A growing body of empirical evidence suggests that the evolution of facial expression has been driven by the need to bond. Dunbar’s theories of group cohesion are therefore key to understanding primate (including human) facial expression.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e187
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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