A unifying taxonomy of dyadic emotional processes

Traditionally, emotions have been viewed as intrapersonal experiences, but recent perspectives emphasize their interpersonal nature. Yet research on interpersonal emotional processes is scattered across subfields and lacks a unifying framework. We propose a taxonomy that structures the different methodological ways through which dyadic emotional processes can be and have been empirically studied. Reviewing recent work, we apply this taxonomy to identify well-studied versus neglected areas and clarify gaps between empirical work and theory. Our review highlights two key insights: to advance theory, empirical research should (i) consider context and (ii) move beyond simple bivariate approaches. Laying the methodological groundwork, the taxonomy provides a first step toward unifying the literature and fostering cumulative progress in understanding interpersonal emotional processes.