Emotional Theory of Rationality

Abstract

In recent decades, the existence of a close relationship between emotional phenomena and rational processes has certainly been established, yet there is still no unified definition or effective model to describe them. To advance our understanding of the mechanisms governing the behavior of living beings, we must integrate multiple theories, experiments, and models from both fields. In this article we propose a new theoretical framework that allows integrating and understanding the emotion–cognition duality, from a functional point of view. Based on evolutionary principles, our reasoning adds to the definition and understanding of emotion, justifying its origin, explaining its mission and dynamics, and linking it to higher cognitive processes, mainly with attention, cognition, decision-making, and consciousness. According to our theory, emotions are the mechanism for brain function optimization, aside from the contingency and stimuli prioritization system. As a result of this approach, we have developed a dynamic systems-level model capable of providing plausible explanations for certain psychological and behavioral phenomena and establishing a new framework for the scientific definition of some fundamental psychological terms.

How Moment-to-Moment EEG Measures Enhance Ad Effectiveness Evaluation

“…AIDA-negative) logics that relate to EEG ad indicators and warrants further discussion. The findings obtained concur with neuroscientific theories, which posit that appraisal emotions activate attention (Garcés and Finkel, 2019) and exhibit negativity bias (Smith et al, 2003;Carretie et al, 2001). Due to the dominance of rational and cognitive (AIDA-positive) logic, the advertising profession on the other hand seems to exhibit positivity bias.…”

Emotions, narratives, and the art of making meanings: Nantes’ memorial to the abolition of slavery

“…Rather, they hold that "emotional display and the language of passion may very well coexist with argumentative and ethical discourse" (Gottweis 2012). Such a perspective is congruent with recent works in philosophy (Nussbaum 2001), anthropology (Beatty 2014) and neuroscience (Garcés and Finkel 2019), which now leave little doubt that "emotion is part of reasoning and not a distraction upsetting a coldly rational process" (Mercer 2010, 5).…”

Bridging the gap between believing and memory functions

“…Owing to the encoding function of memory believing would stabilize a given perception in the light of its adaptive value to a given subject (Connors & Halligan, 2015). This will result in an increased effectiveness and efficiency of brain mechanisms involved in problem solving, decision making, goal setting, and in maneuvering in the environment (Connors & Halligan, 2020;Garcés & Finkel, 2019). However, owing to reinforcement learning the resulting beliefs are up-dated by new information.…”