Why valence is not enough in the study of emotions: behavioural differences between regret and disappointment

This paper reflects on the role of emotions on decision-making. The authors stress the limitations of a valence (“positivity” versus “negativity”) based approach. Emotions and their experiential content are synthetically exposed. Research has shown that ever closely related emotions – such as regret...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martinez, Luis Fructuoso (author)
Other Authors: Zeelenberg, Marcel (author), Rijsman, John B. (author)
Format: article
Language:por
Published: 2008
Subjects:
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v22i2.349
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:oai.appsicologia.org:article/349
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Summary:This paper reflects on the role of emotions on decision-making. The authors stress the limitations of a valence (“positivity” versus “negativity”) based approach. Emotions and their experiential content are synthetically exposed. Research has shown that ever closely related emotions – such as regret and disappointment -, whether anticipated or experienced, have differential influences on the behavior on decision makers. This favours emotion-specific research in decision-making context, i.e., the pragmatic “feeling-is-for-doing” approach. We believe the emotional system is the primary motivational system for goal-directed behavior. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v22i2.349