Zajonc's "emotions before thought" hypothesis

Definition

Zajonc's "emotions before thought" hypothesis suggests that emotions can occur before cognitive processes, meaning that we can experience emotional reactions without conscious awareness or prior thinking.

Related terms

Priming:

The activation of certain thoughts or feelings in our mind due to exposure to specific stimuli, which can influence our subsequent behavior or emotional responses.

Implicit Memory:

Unconscious memories that are stored in our long-term memory and affect our behavior or emotions without us being aware of it.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis:

The idea that facial expressions can influence our emotions by sending feedback signals to our brain, causing us to experience certain emotions based on how we use our facial muscles.