Emotions as Affective Position-Takings and as Nonconceptual Meta-Representations: A Comparison. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reisenzein, Rainer
• Is Part Of: Emotion review. Volume 14:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 273
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: belief-desire theory -- emotion as affective position takings -- theory comparison; Emotions -- Periodicals; Emotions -- Research -- Periodicals; 152.4
• DOI: 10.1177/17540739221125459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-0739

Abstract

The theory of emotions as affective position-takings (PT) is investigated from the perspective of a computational model of the belief-desire theory of emotions (CBDTE) proposed by the author. Both theories assume that a core subset of typical emotion episodes are the products of an evaluation process in which cognized states of affairs are evaluated for their congruence with the person's desires; and that emotions are, on the conscious level, feelings of pleasure and displeasure. However, according to PT the evaluation is a concern-based construal and emotional feelings are intrinsically object-directed, whereas according to CBDTE, the evaluation is performed by a hardwired mechanism that produces nonintentional feelings. Furthermore, CBDTE suggests that hedonic feelings are simultaneously reactions to the detection of value, and representations of the detected value.