Social Psychology Understanding the human Brain & Emotion
Summary Of Social Psychology and emotion & Key Points to remember
Brain systems controlling and responding to emotion
◦ Cortical structures, amygdala and limbic system
◦ Applications to normal and abnormal processing
Darwin’s 6 universal emotions
Behaviour and psychological functions as evolved ‘adaptive’ traits aiding
survival
The (Darwin’s) Big Six and others
o happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise
o interest, contempt, pride, loyalty, love, hope, etc.
Evidence: expression & psychophysiology
o infants & adults - cross-cultural stability
o expression in animals
Debate continues over whether experiences are innate or learnt
But many expressions appear universal
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KEY BRAIN STRUCTURES FOR EMOTIONS
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)
◦ Regulation of emotional reactions
The Limbic system
◦ Perception of emotion, emotional activation, emotion-associated memory; negative
bias?
The Insular cortex and disgust
Reward/pleasure pathways
Nucleus accumbens
Summary Of Social Psychology and emotion & Key Points to remember
Brain systems controlling and responding to emotion
◦ Cortical structures, amygdala and limbic system
◦ Applications to normal and abnormal processing
Darwin’s 6 universal emotions
Behaviour and psychological functions as evolved ‘adaptive’ traits aiding
survival
The (Darwin’s) Big Six and others
o happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise
o interest, contempt, pride, loyalty, love, hope, etc.
Evidence: expression & psychophysiology
o infants & adults - cross-cultural stability
o expression in animals
Debate continues over whether experiences are innate or learnt
But many expressions appear universal
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KEY BRAIN STRUCTURES FOR EMOTIONS
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC)
◦ Regulation of emotional reactions
The Limbic system
◦ Perception of emotion, emotional activation, emotion-associated memory; negative
bias?
The Insular cortex and disgust
Reward/pleasure pathways
Nucleus accumbens
