NeuroLaw: Introduction to Neuroscience - 4 - Emotion

The Introduction to Neuroscience microcredential course is offered by the Michigan State University Neuroscience and Law program for students and working professionals with an interest in learning how neuroscience can be applied to their role in the crimimal justice system, whether it be law enforcement, criminal investigation, forensics, social work, or in the courtroom.

While we may think emotions largely dictate our behavior, it’s actually contextual cues that play a more influential role when responding in different ways to an identical stimulus or situation. Consequently we should be capable of controlling our behavior despite our emotional state. The Emotion module helps to explain what’s happening inside the brain when a crime is committed “in the heat of passion”, and why we’re normally able to control our behaviour otherwise. Most relevant to criminal justice are the social emotions that involve interactions with others: when not regulated properly these can easily lead to interpersonal conflict. We discuss whether emotional behaviors should be considered irrational, inappropriate, or both, and furthermore how the expectations we have for ourselves and others are often based on the emotions we are experiencing at the time. To help understand the basis of emotional behaviors, we look at the corresponding physiological effects such as those involved with fight or flight responses. We then discuss whether legal decision making should be based on reason, emotion, or both, and finish by surveying the impact that emotions have on the decisions made by defendants, jurors, judges and legislators.

All this and more in the Emotion module of the Introduction to Neuroscience microcredential course for NeuroLaw.