Are you always sure you know what people mean when they try to describe their feelings to you? We use both words and gestures to express our feelings, but the problem is that these words and gestures can be interpreted in different ways. It is true that a smile means the same thing in any language. So does laughter or crying. There are also a number of striking similarities in the way different animals show the same feeling. Dogs, tigers and humans, for example, often show their teeth when they are angry. This is probably because such behaviour patterns are inherited rather than learned. Fear is another emotion that is shown in much the same way all over the world. In Chinese and in English fiction, a phrase like he went pale and began to tremble suggests that the man is either very afraid or has just had a very nasty shock. However, 'he opened his eyes wide' is used to suggest anger in Chinese whereas in English it conveys surprise. In Chinese surprise can be described in a phrase like 'they stretched out their tongues'. Sticking out your tongue in English is an insulting gesture or expresses disgust. Even in the same culture, people differ in their ability to interpret and express feelings. Experiments in America have shown that women are usually better than men at recognizing fear, anger, love and happiness on people’s faces. Disgust, contempt and suffering seem to be the most difficult emotions for people everywhere either to recognize or to express. Other studies have shown that older people usually find it easier to interpret body language (the way people stand or move etc. ) than younger people do. And psychologists such as E. G. Beicr have also shown that some people frequently give completely the wrong impression of how they feel. For instance, they try to show affection but in fact communicate dislike. Or when they want to show interest, they give the impression that they don't care. This can happen even among close friends and members of the same family. In other words, what we think we are communicating through language, voice, face and body movements may be the exact opposite of what other people understand. What might be the reason for the behaviour patterns of animals and humans?