Building on insights from neuroscience~a topic which will be covered in more detail in the next chapter~George Marcus and his colleagues explicitly reject the popular view that we must first " think" before we can "feel" They distinguish between two systems which they term the disposition and surveillance systems. The first deals with information that is routine. It evaluates incoming information according to the emotions that a particular stimulus elicits: in particular, a stimulus may evoke enthusiasm or aversion. While the first mechanism deals with common or habitual ways of thinking, the second deals with stimuli that are novel and unexpected. The dominant emotion dealt with in this second system is anxiety. As Redlawsk puts it, once aroused by something unexpected (read "dangerous") the surveillance system heightens awareness and prepares us to respond by elevating "anxiety" levels. This process is not driven by cognitive processing of the environment but by an emotional response to an unexpected stimulus.
The result is that in this aroused state learning is enhanced, since one needs to understand the nature of whatever threat has been encountered and is thus motivated to find out more about the stimulus. We are alerted to attend much more closely to the stimulus and rely less on habitual thought. In this way, the surveillance system promotes more "reasoned" thought .
How are Hot and Cold Cognition Linked?
The Negative Aspects of Emotion