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Preferences and motivations with and without inferences
Piotr Winkielman1, Michael Inzlicht2, Eddie Harmon-Jones3
1Department of Psychology,University of California,San Diego,La Jolla,CA 92093-0109.pwinkiel@ucsd.eduhttp://psy2.ucsd.edu/~pwinkiel/
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|January 21, 2016
Summary
Emotion, motivation, and cognition are deeply linked in the brain. However, this commentary argues for functional independence at the mind level, supported by psychological evidence.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Philosophy of Mind
- Psychology
Background:
- Neuroscientific research suggests emotion, motivation, and cognition are intricately connected at the neural level.
- Existing models often emphasize the integration of these psychological domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend the discussion of emotion, motivation, and cognition from the neural to the functional (mind) level.
- To explore philosophical and computational arguments supporting functional independence.
- To present psychological phenomena illustrating the distinct roles of these domains.
Main Methods:
- Philosophical analysis of existing theories.
- Computational modeling considerations.
- Review and interpretation of psychological phenomena.
Main Results:
- Functional independence of emotion, motivation, and cognition is supported by philosophical and computational reasoning.
- Psychological evidence, such as reactions to simple stimuli, demonstrates affective and motivational autonomy.
- These independent affective and motivational reactions significantly guide cognitive processes.
Conclusions:
- Despite neural intertwining, emotion, motivation, and cognition can operate with functional independence at the psychological level.
- Understanding this independence is crucial for a comprehensive model of the mind.
- Affective and motivational processes play a key role in directing cognition.
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