1. Emotion Theories and Mixed Emotions
Phoebe C. Ellsworth
October 2015

2. Theories of Emotion Categorical theories Dimensional theories
Constructivist theories
Appraisal theories

5. No change

6. Problems with Categorical Theories
Emotions that don’t fit categories
Similarities and differences among emotions
Transitions between emotions
No change, ay least none that I can’t handle.

10. Problems with 2-dimensional Theories
Not enough differentiation in high arousal (Fear is not just higher-arousal anger) Too much differentiation in low arousal Many emotions can be high or low arousal

14. Problems with Constructivist Theories
Details of construction vague, therefore no clear predictions

16. Instrumental behavior
Elicitors
Appraisals
Bodily responses
Subjective feelings
Action tendencies
Display rules
Conduct rules
Expressive behavior
Instrumental behavior

17. Appraisals Attention Positive Negative Certainty CertaintyNO
Attention
Positive
Negative
Certainty
Certainty
Goal Relevance, Effort
Agency
This one I’d also like to be sequential.
First Attention, then arrow to No
The positive and negative.
Then down the negative side one by one.
Then the whole bunch on the positive side.
Agency
Goal Relevance, Effort
Value Consistency
Value Consistency

18. No change

19. Fear High Attention Negative High Uncertainty Low Control
I may not keep all 3 of this and the next 2, since I want to add our study.

20. Anger
High Attention
Negative
Other Agency
High Certainty
High Control

21. Sorrow
High Attention
Negative
Situational Agency
Low Control

22. Features of Appraisal Theory
Emotion is a process not a state
Whenever an appraisal changes, the emotion changes
Therefore there are not 4, or 6, or 10 basic emotions, but an infinite number
Transitions between emotions will be faster and easier when they share many appraisals
Probably keep as is.

26. Can a person be at two different points on the same dimension
Can a person be at two different points on the same dimension? Sequentially? Yes. Simultaneously? Novelty? Valence? Arousal? Certainty? Goal relevance? Agency?

27. Does it matter? For the brain? Yes
For subjective experience? Maybe not

32. Thank you