Weirdly enough, human body language is surprisingly universal.

Oh those humans--they're all alike!

This is Sandra Tsing Loh, with the Loh Down on Science

Saying, weirdly enough, we ARE. At least in terms of our natural body language.

So says Jessica Tracy, from the University of British Columbia.

Tracy assessed the videotaped reactions of judo masters from forty nations during the 2004 Olympics. The footage was taken immediately after the competitors won--or lost.

Warriors--from every corner of the world--puffed their chest and raised their arms in the thrill of victory! Or they slumped their shoulders and hid their face, in the agony of defeat.

This included the fifty congenitally BLIND competitors from the 2004 Paralympics. They could not POSSIBLY have developed their responses socially.

Tracy says this proves that pride and shame body language is biologically innate--it's written in our DNA.

The ONLY athletes who tried to REPRESS their shame? Ones with normal vision. . . FROM THE U.S.! I know it may be a surprise to hear Americans are the leaders in REPRESSING shame, but. . . That's science for you! And you're welcome.