Discrete emotion theory assumes that there are seven to ten core
emotions and thousands of emotion related words which are all
synonyms of these core emotions (Beck 2004). Depending on the
theory the most well known core emotions are happiness,
surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, contempt, and fear (Izard &
Malatesta 1987). This theory states that these specific core
emotions are biologically determined emotional responses whose
expression and recognition is fundamentally the same for all
individuals regardless of ethnic or cultural differences. Some
scholars believe that these emotions have evolved in us as a way
for people, regardless of communication differences, to predict
what other people are thinking and feeling (Beck 2004). It was a
way for our ancestors to to tell the difference between friend
or foe, and has continued to serve the same function today.
Darwin (1872) was the origin of the concept that some emotions
have specific features. He described several facial,
physiological, and behavioral proce