Gerais (Dec 2009)
A Natureza e a Criação da Xenofobia: Uma Perspectiva da Neurociência Cognitiva Social
Abstract
The aim of this review is to integrate evidence from multiple methodologies of neuroscience research to examinethe nature and creation of xenophobia. We argue that xenophobia is a class of stereotyped attitude, whose nature isassociated with the circuitry of the limbic system, especially the amygdala, which can be conceived as an emotionalattentionalfilter that reacts protectively to novel and ambiguous stimuli. Considering the existence ofneurocognitive mechanisms involved in xenophobia, we will support the hypothesis that xenophobic attitudes couldbe socially learned. Finally, a brief discussion on the epigenesis of human behavior will be presented.
