Social Neuroscience

Neuroeconomics

The study of how our brain influences our economic decisions, showing that we don't always make decisions maximizing rewards or minimizing losses.

Orbitofrontal Cortex

A brain region involved in rational decision-making; damage here can lead to unawareness of social mistakes.

Amygdala

A brain structure that mediates emotion-driven responses, influencing how we react in social situations.

Somatic Marker Hypothesis

The idea that damage to the orbitofrontal cortex impairs the ability to inhibit socially inappropriate behavior.

The Trolley Problem

A thought experiment that presents a moral dilemma: choosing to save five people at the cost of one.

Ultimatum Game

A strategic interaction where one person divides money and the other must either accept or reject the offer.

Ellsberg Paradox

A situation demonstrating risk aversion, where people prefer known risks over unknown ones, despite potentially better outcomes.

Orphanage Dilemma

A scenario analyzing moral decision-making, weighing the value of saving a larger number of people versus one with a personal connection.

Affective Empathy

The ability to emotionally resonate with others' feelings, crucial for navigating moral dilemmas.

Cognitive Empathy

The capacity to understand others' emotions logically, allowing for broader analysis of social situations.

Empathy Gap

The disparity in empathy responses between ingroups and outgroups, affecting social interactions.

Operating Mechanisms of Empathy

The relationship between depression levels and the capacity for empathy, highlighting the effects of social connection.

Misinterpretation of Kindness

The phenomenon where lonely individuals misread acts of kindness due to emotional disconnection.

Reflexive Smiling

The automatic smile we express in response to others' smiles, which can diminish in socially isolated individuals.

Ratinal Decision-Making

Decision-making that is thought to be logical and in alignment with maximizing rewards.

Social Faux Experiment

An experiment observing how individuals respond to social mistakes and blunders.

Teasing Experiment

An investigation into how individuals react and interpret teasing within social dynamics.

Antisocial Personality

A personality type characterized by disregard for others' feelings and social norms.

Decision Theory

A framework for understanding how individuals make choices, often revealing inconsistencies in expected utility.

Moral Decision-Making

The process of determining the ethical implications of a choice, often challenged by conflicting values and principles.

Utility Theory

A theory that explains decision-making based on the expected outcomes and relative satisfaction.

Emotional Reasoning

Making decisions based on feelings rather than logical analysis, often influencing moral choices.

Utilitarianism

An ethical theory that focuses on maximizing overall happiness and welfare in decision-making contexts.

Social Connection

The networks and relationships individuals maintain that can influence their emotional and psychological well-being.

Risk Aversion

The tendency to prefer known outcomes over uncertain ones, even when the uncertain outcome may be better.

Decision-Making Contexts

The situations or frameworks within which individuals make choices that are influenced by various factors.