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Emotions, not just decision-making processes, are critical to an evolutionary model of human behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2007

Glenn E. Weisfeld  and
Peter LaFreniere
Glenn E. Weisfeld
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202; ad4297@wayne.edu
Peter LaFreniere
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. peterlaf@maine.edu
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Abstract

An evolutionary model of human behavior should privilege emotions: essential, phylogenetically ancient behaviors that learning and decision making only subserve. Infants and non-mammals lack advanced cognitive powers but still survive. Decision making is only a means to emotional ends, which organize and prioritize behavior. The emotion of pride/shame, or dominance striving, bridges the social and biological sciences via internalization of cultural norms.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , February 2007 , pp. 43 - 44
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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