Comparing Contemporary Theories of Emotion in Political Science and Psychology

• In Event: How Do You Feel about That? The Role of Emotion in Politics

Abstract

Emotion has become an increasing focus of research in psychology and political science. It is worth executing a comparative analysis of four leading theories of emotion to consider to what extent each constitutes a fully comprehensive theory, including but not limited to having a taxonomic component, measurement component, a comprehensive account of emotion antecedents and downstream consequences, and a neuroscientific foundation. The theories under consideration are, in alphabetical order, affective intelligence theory, appraisal theories, emotion regulation, and valence based accounts. I begin with a brief statement of the elements that constitute a full theory of emotion. After a brief history of each, I evaluate their theoretical claims: 1) as to their definitions of emotions (i.e., as to what are emotions and offering an explicit comprehensive taxonomy of emotion); 2) emotion as dependent variables (i.e., how to explain when and why emotions vary: 3) as independent variables (i.e., what and when do emotions influence various upstream and downstream factors). I find there are material differences across and within each of these theoretical, and empirical, programs. In addition, I find that the reach of various theories do not fully overlap, indeed some do not overlap much if at all. The purpose of this comparison to find areas of convergence and divergence so as to identify competing claims, both implicit and explicit. The overarching goal of the comparison is to identify substantive and methodological gaps, conflicting claims, as well as points of convergence.

Author

• George E. Marcus, Williams College