Not the Same Love: What Emotions Our Ancestors Experienced

Марина Онегина • 25.12.2025, 21:01 • Exclusive

Scientific research shows that emotions are not universal and can vary greatly depending on context. Rob Boddice, working at the Centre of Excellence in the History of Experience at Tampere University in Finland, studies feelings and emotions, focusing on the nuances of historical context, such as the scents of old cities or the depth of grief expressed in letters during wartime. Instead of the facts of the past, he is interested in the subtle details that help reconstruct the "experience" of people from those times.
Boddice is critical of the common notions of six basic emotions—happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust—identified by psychologist Paul Ekman in the 1960s. These emotions have become the foundation for many cultural representations, including Pixar's animated film "Inside Out," where feelings are portrayed as anthropomorphic characters. However, Boddice believes this leads to a false interpretation of the past. We tend to think that the love between Eloise and Abelard, who wrote to each other in the 12th century, is not very different from our own, and that the anger of workers in Ancient Egypt was similar to modern anger. Such perceptions simplify the complexity of human emotions and experiences.
According to Boddice, it is important to recognize that we do not have direct understanding of the feelings of people from the past. He asserts that "there is nothing in my human nature that gives me an understanding of humanity." Emotions are mutable and unstable categories that depend on time and place. He emphasizes that emotions are shaped by cultural and historical conditions, which is why they cannot be considered universal.
Boddice's ideas resonate with the philosophy of William James, who in his book "The Principles of Psychology" also did not regard emotions as immutable. James argued that our perceptions and reactions to the surrounding world can vary significantly. Boddice uses contemporary data from neurobiology to show how individual experience shapes the perception of emotions, as described by Lisa Feldman Barrett, who highlights cultural differences in the understanding of emotions.
Returning to the medieval carpenter, Boddice questions how often he might have encountered similar traumas and what religious or cultural associations might have influenced his perception of pain. This leads to the conclusion that understanding feelings requires considering a multitude of factors that affect perception.
Historical studies of art and theology can also help in understanding the context in which people experienced certain feelings. Boddice wants to use archival materials to create a comprehensive picture of emotions in the past.
His interest in pain underscores that while we may perceive it as a universal phenomenon, descriptions of pain vary depending on cultural contexts. Each historical description of pain is unique, and by studying them, we can understand how people in different eras perceived their suffering.
In his book "Emotion, Feeling, Experience," co-authored with Mark Smith, Boddice emphasizes the importance of understanding the diversity of human experience and calls for breaking down stereotypes about what it means to be human.
The book begins with an analysis of the first word denoting emotion in the "Iliad." Boddice believes that the words "anger" or "rage" applied to Achilles do not reflect his true feelings, opening a new perspective on emotions in antiquity.
If we acknowledge that emotions are not the same across different historical periods, it calls into question the possibility of establishing universal standards for understanding human experience across cultures. Boddice argues that it is important to recognize the uniqueness of each historical moment and not to simplify complex emotional experiences.
The work of Jan Plamper, who explores the perception of the Russian Revolution of 1917, shows how the sounds and smells of that time were an integral part of revolutionary changes. This research highlights that feelings and perceptions also evolve alongside historical events.
Javier Moscoso, in his book "The Arc of Feelings," examines continuity in experience during the movement on swings, linking them to various aspects of human life. He emphasizes that despite differences, there are many commonalities in human experience.
Boddice is not opposed to seeking common ground in human experience, but he stands against simplification and universalization. His work aims to deepen the understanding of emotions and help people recognize the complexity of interactions and feelings.
Ultimately, the question of what feelings our ancestors experienced remains open. Perhaps humanity, at its most basic level, is united by the desire to understand and study the emotions and feelings of others.

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