Last week we discussed the role of contempt, disgust, and anger in violence, but what is the role of emotions in group identity and differentiation? In fact, recent scientific research has focused increasingly on the role of group-level emotions, as opposed to just those of each individual. This can have significant effects in shaping when…
Read MoreCan Basic Emotions Be Used To Predict Violence?
As may be unsurprising to many of you, reading basic emotions in others may be a key to predicting violence. Humintell has written for years on the importance of basic emotions, but can understanding these emotions help better understand or predict violent behavior? Drs. David Matsumoto, Hyi Sung Hwang, and Mark Frank all agree with…
Read MoreThreat in the Golden Years
As we age, we tend to look more fondly on the world and on our memories, but does that mean we can’t detect threat? While a great deal of research indicates that older individuals tend to focus on pleasurable or non-threatening aspects of experience and memories, it is unclear whether this means they are less…
Read MoreHow to Know if an Angry Face is Threatening
While it may be tricky to say if an angry face is threatening, our brain may already be deciding for us. This may sound far-fetched, but as Dr. Harald Schupp and a team of researchers found in 2004, we are hardwired on an evolutionary level to experience a fear response upon detecting perceived threat in…
Read More