Some Reflections on the Goal-Directed Theory of Emotion

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the goal-directed theory of emotion as advanced and defended by psychologist Agnes Moors. I give some reasons for supporting one of its main tenets, namely, that emotional episodes involve decision-making processes. I will however object that the theory has trouble to account for some aspects of positive emotions and in general to accommodate some instances of extremely positive and extremely negative emotions. I will also argue that, in order to account for the irrationality involved in emotional recalcitrance, some sort of duality of emotional mechanisms is also required

Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Project code: PID2021-127046NA-100

Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature