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Conjunction in the Language of Emotions
Gregory V Jones1, Maryanne Martin2
1a University of Warwick , UK.
Cognition & Emotion
|October 13, 2017
Summary
The cognitive theory of emotion suggests only one emotion operates at a time. However, research indicates people often prefer definitions allowing for multiple, concurrent emotions, suggesting a need to revise the theory.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Emotional Science
Background:
- Oatley and Johnson-Laird's cognitive theory of emotion posits five basic emotions.
- The theory predicts emotion words can be defined as disjunctions of basic emotions.
- Mixed emotions are defined as disjunctions under this theory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the cognitive theory of emotion's definitions of mixed emotions.
- To compare disjunctive definitions with conjunctive definitions.
- To investigate how people define words for mixed emotions.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted.
- Participants compared disjunctive and conjunctive definitions of emotion words.
- The explicitness of definitions was varied.
Main Results:
- Conjunctive definitions were often preferred over disjunctive ones.
- Preference for conjunctive definitions increased with explicitness.
- Findings challenge the theory's exclusivity of single emotional states.
Conclusions:
- Oatley and Johnson-Laird's theory may require modification.
- The theory should accommodate the conjunction of emotions.
- Individuals may experience multiple emotions in parallel.
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