From affect programs to dynamical discrete emotions

Author: Colombetti, Giovanna

Source: Philosophical Psychology, Volume 22, Number 4, August 2009 , pp. 407-425(19)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

According to Discrete Emotion Theory, a number of emotions are distinguishable on the basis of neural, physiological, behavioral and expressive features. Critics of this view emphasize the variability and context-sensitivity of emotions. This paper discusses some of these criticisms, and argues that they do not undermine the claim that emotions are discrete. This paper also presents some works in dynamical affective science, and argues that to conceive of discrete emotions as self-organizing and softly assembled patterns of various processes accounts more naturally than traditional Discrete Emotion Theory for the variability and context-sensitivity of emotions.

Keywords: Affect Programs; Discrete Emotions; Dynamical Affective Science

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09515080903153600

Publication date: 2009-08-01

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