Affective priming

Affective priming is a psychological phenomenon where exposure to a stimulus with an emotional quality influences how you respond to a subsequent stimulus. For example, if you see a happy face first, you might react more positively to the next image or word, even if you're unaware of the connection. This process happens quickly and automatically, shaping your feelings and judgments without conscious effort. It reveals how our emotions and perceptions are interconnected, often affecting our decisions and attitudes subtly and involuntarily.