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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.

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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