FOR 605: Emotion and Behaviour: Reflective and Impulsive Processes

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The studies projected for this Research Unit pursue the goal of merging theoretical perspectives and methods in the social, biological and neurological fields of psychology to reach a greater understanding of the reciprocal influences of emotion and behaviour. A common perspective in these concentrations of psychology is the understood assumption that human behaviour is determined through two systems, operating through differential processes. In social psychology, reflective and impulsive mechanisms acting together on behaviour stand in the foreground. In neuropsychology, it is the interaction of activities in the prefrontal cortex and in regions of the brain stem. In both cases, the deciding influences could facilitate synergetic behavioural execution, but could also initiate a conflict between systems. One example of this is in situations of temptation and addiction, wherein emotions play a role by influencing impulsive behaviour, while reflective mechanisms of self-regulation can mobilise counter-directional faculties under appropriate conditions.