1 - Emotions

Summary

The chapter provides a communicative conception of emotions. It contextualizes the topic and thesis of this book in emotion psychology. Understanding emotion as a communicative phenomenon places the narrative in a central position in the emotion process, which contrasts to the prevalent individualistic conceptions of emotion. A communicative conception of emotion goes back to Charles Darwin’s ideas on the evolution of emotions and their successive elaboration by Wilhelm Wundt and George Herbert Mead. I use Richard Lazarus’ late elaboration of his coping theory as an emotion theory to embed emotions in social relationships. Finally, ideas by Keith Oatley serve to introduce narrative as the ideal format for understanding emotions. The basic thesis of this book is that human emotions are intricately structured by social perspectives that are embedded in narrative. This follows from the communicative nature of emotions. The unfolding of the argument through the chapters of the book is anticipated.