Single Idea 4906

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 3. Emotions / a. Nature of emotions]

Full Idea

Babies show emotion dramatically, but the areas of the brain that in adults are linked to the conscious experience of emotions are not active in newborn babies. Such emotions may therefore be unconscious.

Gist of Idea

Babies show highly emotional brain events, but may well be unaware of them

Source

Rita Carter (Mapping the Mind [1998], p. 19)

Book Reference

Carter,Rita: 'Mapping the Mind' [Phoenix 2000], p.19


A Reaction

Traditionally, 'unconscious emotion' is a contradiction, but I think we should accept this new evidence and rethink the nature of mind. Not only might emotion be non-conscious, but we should even consider that rational thinking could be too.