A01=Paul E. Griffiths
adaptive mechanisms
affect
anger
Author_Paul E. Griffiths
biology
Category=JMA
Category=JMM
cognition
cognitive science
connection
desire
emotion
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
evolution
feelings
gabriele taylor
humanity
kenny
love
mental health
moods
nature
neurobiology
nonfiction
nussbaum
philosophy
psychology
relationships
shame
social construction
society
sociobiology
solomon
Product details
- ISBN 9780226308715
- Weight: 595g
- Dimensions: 16 x 24mm
- Publication Date: 01 Oct 1997
- Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Hardback
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This study argues that much research of the emotions has been misguided. It attempts to show that "emotion" encompasses psychological states of very different, and thus not comparable, kinds. Some emotions, such a brief flaring up of anger in response to some experience, are evolutionary ancient, reflex-like responses which appear insensitive to culture. Others, like moral guilt, differ importantly across cultures, despite their long history in humans, and affinity to behaviour seen in other species. Yet other emotions appear to be the acting-out of today's psychological myths, as ghost possession acted out the metaphysical myths of past centuries. These three kinds of responses have different evolutionary origins, different adaptive functions, different biological bases, and different roles in human psychology. The concept that binds them together, emotion, plays no useful role, since there is no object of scientific knowledge that corresponds to it. A detailed overview of the relevant theoretical approaches is provided in this text, assessing the relative merits of three main theoretical approaches: affect programme theory, evolutionary psychology, and social constructionism.
