Evolution tuned humans to feel distinct emotions for distinct intergroup threats

Evidence

Neuberg and Cottrell (2002) developed a biocultural model of intergroup threat and the resulting discrete emotions. They emphasize the group context in which humans evolved, and hypothesize that people are tuned by evolution to respond emotionally to group-level as well as individuallevel threats. This model distinguishes different types of threats; for example, directed at the ingroup’s resources versus the group’s integrity, which may elicit systematically different emotions. Neuberg and Cottrell (2002, see p. 272) hypothesize a wide range of emotions that could be experienced in group contexts, including anger, fear, disgust, sadness, and pity. Their approach is generally consistent with Intergroup Emotions Theory, while also offering a further evolutionary analyses of functionality that explains why people tend to psychologically identify with ingroups as well as to respond emotionally to group-level threats. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 2275

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces Neuberg and Cottrell’s biocultural model distinguishing threat types that elicit different discrete emotions.
• XREF: connects to: Evolutionary psychologists see the human mind as many domain-specific evolved instincts, not fewer — Joseph Henrich, The Secret of Our Success: How Culture…, 72; Emotions adaptively mobilize attention, behavior hierarchies, and physiology to respond to environmental demands. — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 24; Different intergroup threats evoke different emotions, not a single unified response. — Blake M. Riek, Eric W. Mania, and Samuel L. Gaertner, Intergroup Threat and Outgroup…, 139