2007-04-30 10:33:28 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Instinct.
It's not just surprise, either. Anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and many other emotions seem to have a near-universal means of expression in facial feature. And not even just among humans - many animals share the same features.
When you compare the hundreds of human languages and only one predominant facial language, then you almost have to conclude that something is going on. This is no accident.
Especially for social creatures such as ourselves, it is to our great advantage to have some idea what's going on in each others' heads. If your neighbor is surprised and you are not, maybe it's a good idea to see what's going on before it affects you. This is also part of our natural inclination to look at traffic accidents, even if it clogs up traffic behind us. When something special is going on, it usually pays to find out about it!
Thus we have expressions. A baby knows them right away... for a time it is the only means it has of communicating. And even newborn babies who have never seen another human being will smile and frown and perform many other expressions we are familiar with.
As to why the expression for surprise would take that specific form... that's harder to say. Perhaps it has to do with going limp - a good way to avoid damage from an impact. Perhaps it's similar to a fear response - showing teeth can sometimes make an attacker think twice. Maybe it's just a way to get more air. I can't say I've seen any research on it, so your guess is as good as anyone's, I suppose.
Hope that helps!
2007-04-30 11:24:45 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is any biological predisposition for humans to drop their jaws when surprised.
We do it because of conditioning - learned behaviour that we unconsciously pick up from the day we enter this world. So toddlers see their parents drop their jaws when something surprises them, so... they copy it.. and the action is carried down through the ages.
~*~M
2007-04-30 17:54:40 · answer #2 · answered by Nefarious Pride 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say wow, ahhh, stuff like that and see most of them make your jaw do that.
2007-04-30 17:42:26 · answer #3 · answered by darkflower366 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The silent, shocked response, "What?"
2007-04-30 17:37:54 · answer #4 · answered by Emerald Jones 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's so that we can still breathe while we momentarily forget to inhale
2007-04-30 19:07:09 · answer #5 · answered by ·will¹ªm ºn vacation! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because we have to show what we feel
2007-04-30 18:00:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋