Zajonc-LeDoux

Definition

The Zajonc-LeDoux theory proposes that some emotional responses occur instantly without conscious appraisal. It suggests that we can experience an immediate emotional reaction to a stimulus before any cognitive processing takes place.

Related terms

Amygdala:

Part of the brain involved in emotion processing. It plays a key role in mediating quick emotional responses like fear or aggression.

Unconscious Emotion: These are feelings not immediately available to consciousness but can influence behaviors and attitudes.

Fight-or-Flight Response:

An automatic physiological reaction to threatening situations where one must decide between fighting off danger or fleeing.