The Cognitive Structure of Emotions

The Cognitive Structure of Emotions, originally published over 30 years ago, has been refined and updated in this new edition. The authors propose a systematic account of emotion differentiation, rejecting bodily feelings, emotion-related behaviors, and facial expressions as insufficiently diagnostic. They provide a detailed analysis of emotion differentiation in terms of cognitive underpinnings and show how emotions can be formalized for computational purposes. This book will interest a wide audience in cognitive, clinical, and social psychology, as well as in artificial intelligence and affective computing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 18 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

More than three decades after its initial publication, this new edition of The Cognitive Structure of Emotions refines and updates Ortony, Clore, and Collins' OCC model of emotions. Starting from a three-way classification of construals of the world—events, the attribution of responsibility for events, and objects—the authors propose a systematic account of emotion differentiation. Rejecting the oft-favored features of bodily feelings, emotion-related behaviors, and facial expressions as too intensity-dependent and insufficiently diagnostic, they provide a detailed analysis of emotion differentiation in terms of the cognitive underpinnings of emotion types. Using numerous examples, they explain how different variables influence emotion intensity and show how emotions can be formalized for computational purposes. Now with a contributed chapter describing the OCC model's influence, this book will interest a wide audience in cognitive, clinical, and social psychology, as well as in artificial intelligence and affective computing, and other cognitive science disciplines.

The OCC model, developed by Ortony, Clore, and Collins, is a comprehensive framework for understanding emotions. It categorizes emotions into three main components: events, the attribution of responsibility for events, and objects. The authors propose a systematic approach to emotion differentiation, rejecting the notion that emotions can be solely defined by bodily feelings, emotion-related behaviors, and facial expressions. Instead, they argue that emotions are multifaceted and can be differentiated based on cognitive factors.

The authors begin by proposing a three-way classification of construals of the world. Events refer to the external stimuli that trigger emotions, such as a person's actions, the environment, or a significant event. The attribution of responsibility for events involves assigning blame or credit to individuals or groups for their actions. Objects refer to the mental representations of external objects or events that individuals hold in their minds.

According to the OCC model, emotions are differentiated based on the cognitive processes that underlie these construals. The authors argue that emotions are not solely determined by the intensity of bodily feelings, but also by the cognitive processes that interpret and evaluate these feelings. For example, emotions may be influenced by the individual's beliefs, expectations, and attentional biases. Individuals may interpret the same event differently based on their prior experiences, cultural background, and personal values.

To illustrate the cognitive underpinnings of emotion differentiation, the authors provide numerous examples. They discuss how different variables, such as personal characteristics, social context, and cognitive biases, influence emotion intensity. For instance, individuals with high self-esteem may experience less negative emotion in response to failure than individuals with low self-esteem. Similarly, individuals who perceive a situation as threatening may experience more fear than individuals who perceive it as non-threatening.

The authors also show how emotions can be formalized for computational purposes. They propose a set of emotion categories that can be used to represent and manipulate emotions in artificial intelligence and affective computing systems. These categories include basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear, as well as more complex emotions such as guilt, shame, and envy. By formalizing emotions, researchers can develop more accurate and effective emotion recognition and response systems.

In conclusion, The Cognitive Structure of Emotions provides a comprehensive and updated account of the cognitive underpinnings of emotions. By rejecting the intensity-dependent and insufficiently diagnostic features of bodily feelings, emotion-related behaviors, and facial expressions, the authors propose a systematic approach to emotion differentiation. Using numerous examples, they illustrate how different variables influence emotion intensity and show how emotions can be formalized for computational purposes. This book will interest a wide audience in cognitive, clinical, and social psychology, as well as in artificial intelligence and affective computing, and other cognitive science disciplines.

Weight: 421g
ISBN-13: 9781108928755
Edition number: 2 Revised edition