title: Affective neuronal selection: the nature of the primordial emotion systems.
abstract: Based on studies in affective neuroscience and evolutionary psychiatry, a tentative new proposal is made here as to the nature and identification of primordial emotional systems. Our model stresses phylogenetic origins of emotional systems, which we believe is necessary for a full understanding of the functions of emotions and additionally suggests that emotional organizing systems play a role in sculpting the brain during ontogeny. Nascent emotional systems thus affect cognitive development. A second proposal concerns two additions to the affective systems identified by Panksepp. We suggest there is substantial evidence for a primary emotional organizing program dealing with power, rank, dominance, and subordination which instantiates competitive and territorial behavior and is an evolutionary contributor to self-esteem in humans. A program underlying disgust reactions which originally functioned in ancient vertebrates to protect against infection and toxins is also suggested.
authors: Department of Psychology, Trinity Western University Langley, BC, Canada ; Department of Biology, Trinity Western University Langley, BC, Canada.
authors: Judith A
authors: JA
authors: Toronchuk
authors: George F R
authors: GF
authors: Ellis
keywords: disgust; dominance; emotion and cognition; emotions; phylogenetic origins; primordial emotional systems