How does it "feel"? A signal detection approach to feeling generation.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Affective Science

Background:

• Subjective emotional experience (feeling) is central to emotional reactions.
• Previous models of feeling generation have limitations.
• A new conceptualization using signal detection theory (SDT) is proposed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and validate a signal detection theory (SDT) model for feeling generation.
• To investigate the roles of evidence differentiation (d') and criterion (c) in subjective emotional experience.
• To explore the implications of this model for understanding emotional overreactions and underreactions.

Main Methods:

• Developed a novel experimental task to assess feeling generation.
• Applied signal detection theory (SDT) to model valence (pleasant-unpleasant) feelings.
• Correlated SDT parameters with measures of emotion regulation and affective style.

Main Results:

• The SDT model demonstrated a superior fit for valence feeling generation compared to alternative models.
• Experimental tests confirmed predictions regarding contextual influences and uncertainty.
• SDT parameters, particularly the criterion, showed significant correlations with emotion regulation and affective style.

Conclusions:

• The proposed SDT framework offers a robust model for understanding the mechanisms of feeling generation.
• The criterion parameter is crucial in controlling the intensity and proportion of emotional "errors" (over- or under-reactions).
• Findings have implications for understanding emotional experiences in both typical and clinical populations (psychopathology).