Display options
Cite
Woody EZ, Szechtman H. A biological security motivation system for potential threats: are there implications for policy-making?. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:556doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556.
Woody, E. Z., & Szechtman, H. (2013). A biological security motivation system for potential threats: are there implications for policy-making?. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 7556. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556
Woody, Erik Z, and Szechtman, Henry. "A biological security motivation system for potential threats: are there implications for policy-making?." Frontiers in human neuroscience vol. 7 (2013): 556. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556
Woody EZ, Szechtman H. A biological security motivation system for potential threats: are there implications for policy-making?. Front Hum Neurosci. 2013 Sep 09;7:556. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556. eCollection 2013. PMID: 24058340; PMCID: PMC3766820.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Front Hum Neurosci. 2013 Sep 09;7:556. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556. eCollection 2013.

A biological security motivation system for potential threats: are there implications for policy-making?.

Frontiers in human neuroscience

Erik Z Woody, Henry Szechtman

Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON, Canada.

PMID: 24058340 PMCID: PMC3766820 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00556

Abstract

Research indicates that there is a specially adapted, hard-wired brain circuit, the security motivation system, which evolved to manage potential threats, such as the possibility of contamination or predation. The existence of this system may have important implications for policy-making related to security. The system is sensitive to partial, uncertain cues of potential danger, detection of which activates a persistent, potent motivational state of wariness or anxiety. This state motivates behaviors to probe the potential danger, such as checking, and to correct for it, such as washing. Engagement in these behaviors serves as the terminating feedback for the activation of the system. Because security motivation theory makes predictions about what kinds of stimuli activate security motivation and what conditions terminate it, the theory may have applications both in understanding how policy-makers can best influence others, such as the public, and also in understanding the behavior of policy-makers themselves.

Keywords: decision making; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); potential danger; precautionary behavior; risk; security motivation

References

  1. Biol Psychol. 2007 Feb;74(2):116-43 - PubMed
  2. Annu Rev Psychol. 1988;39:43-68 - PubMed
  3. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2011 Mar;35(4):1019-33 - PubMed
  4. Biol Psychol. 2010 Oct;85(2):331-7 - PubMed
  5. Behav Brain Sci. 2006 Dec;29(6):595-613; discussion 613-50 - PubMed
  6. PLoS One. 2012;7(1):e30586 - PubMed
  7. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2001 Dec;25(7-8):577-86 - PubMed
  8. Annu Rev Neurosci. 1986;9:357-81 - PubMed
  9. Biol Psychol. 2007 Feb;74(2):301-7 - PubMed
  10. Psychol Rev. 2004 Jan;111(1):111-27 - PubMed
  11. Trends Neurosci. 2000 Sep;23(9):412-7 - PubMed
  12. Int J Psychophysiol. 2001 Oct;42(2):123-46 - PubMed
  13. Am Nat. 1999 Jun;153(6):649-659 - PubMed
  14. J Clin Psychiatry. 1996;57 Suppl 8:3-6 - PubMed

Publication Types