Affect, affective resonance and a new theory for hypnosis

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Adult human emotion is increasingly understood as neocortical modulation of innate subcortical affect programs.
• Tomkins' logical system links innate affect to adult behavior, providing a framework for current research.
• Newer infant observation studies offer insights into early emotional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence linking neocortical modulation of subcortical affect programs to adult emotion.
• To explore the role of interaffectivity and intersubjectivity in modulating infantile affect.
• To examine the parallels between caregiver modulation of infant affect and hypnotic induction techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on neocortical modulation and affect programs.
• Analysis of infant observation studies focusing on interaffectivity and intersubjectivity.
• Comparative analysis of external modulation processes in infancy and hypnotic induction.

Main Results:

• Infant observation reveals caregivers as external modulators of infantile affect.
• Processes of external modulation in infancy share similarities with hypnotic induction techniques.
• Facial affect display is crucial for understanding the relationship between hypnosis and affect.

Conclusions:

• A significant reorganization of theories on affect and facial expression is warranted.
• Investigators presenting data on hypnosis must meticulously attend to facial affect display.
• Understanding the modulation of affect, from infancy to adulthood, is key to advancing psychological and neuroscientific theories.