Social Processing of Discrete Emotions in Humans

Abstract

I asked human observers to rate capacity and trustworthiness trait impressions of, and to indicate affiliative and avoidant dispositions, and felt emotive responses toward social objects. I show that interpersonal dispositions and emotive responses are systematically associated with variation in perceived levels of these trait impressions. The findings suggest that perception and expression of cues that signal capacity and trustworthiness of reciprocating altruism may underlie discrete affect behaviors in humans.