The emotional mind : a control theory of affective states

Description

Develops an original control theory of emotions and related affective states, providing new perspectives on the mind as a whole. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Dedication Contents Figures Tables Acknowledgements Introduction 0.1 The Big Picture 0.2 In Search of Synthesis 0.3 The Perceptual Theory 0.4 The Strategy of This Book Chapter 1 Valent Representation 1.1 Foundations 1.2 The Problem of Mental Content 1.2.1 Teleosemantics 1.2.2 Success Semantics 1.3 Negative Feedback Loops 1.4 Life 1.5 Enactivism versus Representationalism 1.6 Some Features of Valent Representation 1.7 Four Elaborations 1.7.1 Multiple Systems 1.7.2 Distinguished Commands 1.7.3 Bundles and Objects 1.7.4 Subtle Responses1.8 Conclusion Chapter 2 Affect 2.1 Affective States 2.2 An Initial Distinction 2.3 Valent Treatment 2.4 Imperativism 2.4.1 First-Order Imperativism 2.4.2 Higher-Order Imperativism 2.5 Prioritisation 2.6 Pleasure as Success 2.7 The Painful Truth 2.8 Conclusion Chapter 3 Emotions 3.1 A Natural Kind 3.2 Emotion as Valent Representation 3.3 Formal Objects 3.4 Representing Contrasts 3.4.1 Fear 3.4.2 Disgust 3.4.3 Excitement 3.4.4 Sympathy 3.4.5 Regret 3.5 Surprise 3.6 New Concerns 3.7 Response Flexibility 3.8 Conclusion Chapter 4 Bodily Feelings 4.1 Additional Content4.2 Emotions without Feelings 4.3 Moods 4.4 Associative Accounts of Feeling 4.5 Emotional Space 4.6 Emotional Concepts 4.7 Coping Potential 4.8 The Emotions Debate Chapter 5 Expression 5.1 Bodily Music 5.2 Signalling and Showing 5.3 Social Emotions 5.4 Against Individualism 5.5 Collective Intentionality 5.6 Social Norms 5.7 Collective Effervescence 5.8 Conclusion Chapter 6 Conscious Thought 6.1 Extending the Model 6.2 Checking 6.3 Thought-Stimulated Emotion 6.4 Planning 6.5 The Internal Monologue 6.6 Motivated Thought 6.7 Emotion Regulation 6.8 ConclusionChapter 7 Personality and Character 7.1 An Ideal 7.2 Personality Traits 7.3 The Big Five 7.4 The Nature of Character 7.5 Sentiments 7.6 Narratives 7.7 Character in Charge 7.8 Conclusion Chapter 8 Control 8.1 Where Am I? 8.2 Person-Level Agency 8.3 Dynamic Systems 8.4 Two Principles 8.5 Control Architecture 8.5.1 Valent Representation 8.5.2 Inhibition 8.5.3 Association 8.5.4 Affect 8.5.5 Emotions 8.5.6 Social Emotions and Emotional Bodily Feelings 8.5.7 Emotional Coordination 8.5.8 Evaluative Inferences 8.5.9 Character Commitments 8.5.10 Summary 8.6 The Brain8.7 Extended Emotion 8.8 Conclusion to This Book Appendix Emotion Dimensions A.1 Definitions A.1.1 Valence (Positive-Negative) A.1.2 Temporal Orientation (Past-Directed/Current/Future-Directed) A.1.3 Probability (Certain-Uncertain) A.1.4 Social Connection (Connected-Disconnected) A.1.5 Personal Strength (Powerful-Weak) A.1.6 Intentional Focus (Generalised-Focused) A.1.7 Temporal Duration (Enduring-Sudden) A.2 Applications A.2.1 Emotion Differentiation A.2.2 Cross-Cultural Comparisons A.2.3 Subtle Expressive Language Glossary Bibliography Index