Reviewed by Lee Calvert. This sounds nebulous, but has real-life ramifications. In a time when gangs substitute for families, marriages succeed and fail with equal probability, and playground arguments end in killing, Goleman sees understanding this area of mental development as crucial in developing strategies for the kinds of relationships that can build a civilized society. Several studies are cited. As in other cognitive areas, emotions are linked to particular areas of the brain.
Emotional life resides in the limbic system, specifically the amygdala.
Delight, disgust, fear and anger are here. The neocortex enables humans to plan, learn and remember. Lust arises from the limbic system, love from the neocortex. It's difficult to overstate the importance of this area of research. Back to Annotated Bibliographies .