BLUF

Negative facial expressions make it harder to judge cause and effect in social situations. They draw attention but drain mental resources—reducing accurate prediction; while positive expressions allow clearer pattern recognition.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand how negative emotions can disrupt judgment and pattern recognition.
  • Recognise why stress and arousal can reduce decision quality in social settings.
  • Apply insights to leadership, communication, and conflict situations where emotions run high.

References