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In the scientific study of the emotions the goal is to find natural kinds. That is, to find categories about which interesting scientific generalizations and predictions can be formed. Core affect is dimensional approach to the emotions which claims that emotions emerge from the more basic psychological processes of valence (pleasant/unpleasant) and arousal (activation/deactivation). Lisa Feldman Barrett (2006b) has recently argued that the discrete emotion approach has failed to find natural kinds and thus should be dismissed as a failed paradigm. She offers core affect as an alternative theory that will better capture natural kinds in emotionally salient phenomena. In this thesis I evaluate Barrett’s claim on the basis of a philosophically robust understanding of natural kinds and a careful assessment of the empirical evidence. I argue that while core affect is not a natural kind, subsets of core affect space may be natural kinds.

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Submitted by Miriam Lucas (miriam.lucas@unioeste.br) on 2017-08-28T12:49:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Cleonice Marçal 2017.pdf: 901792 bytes, checksum: 81450d2b7508e47101a6ddb330e27edc (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-28T12:49:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Cleonice Marçal 2017.pdf: 901792 bytes, checksum: 81450d2b7508e47101a6ddb330e27edc (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-03 / The current essay deals with the historical-cultural theory of Lev Semenovich Vygotsky and his contribution to children's literature. It is justified both by the importance of Vygotsky's theory for the comprehension of the relations between emotions/feelings, children's literature and imagination/creativity, and by the need to produce pedagogical practices which make the kids develop the liking for literary reading and comprehension of emotions/feelings. The research, of a bibliographical and qualitative character, was based on Vygotsky's theory (1994; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2003; 2004a; 2004b). An analysis was made of how children's literature books, destined to the age group from 3 to 5 years old, approach emotions and feelings. The research started with the following problem: how do children's books accessible to children in the age range from 3 to 5 years of age in public schools, approach the emotions? The general objective was to understand the relationships between children's literature and the development of emotions / feelings and creativity/imagination according to Vygotsky's theory. In order to respond to the proposed problem, the children's literature books distributed to public schools of education in Brazil were analyzed through the National Library in School Program (PNBE / 2014). It was possible to conclude that most books of children's literature relate emotions and feelings as aesthetic expression and enjoyment of emotions. Only a minimal portion mentions moral and behavioral teachings. It was also verified the use of words in augmentative and diminutive forms that denote exaggeration and short texts with the presence of onomatopoeia. In the Vygotskian perspective, the work of art that has as its purpose the teaching of moral and behavioral order can cause adverse effects. The role of the work of art should be aesthetic enjoyment, and not serve as a pretext for teaching a certain content. / A presente dissertação trata da teoria histórico-cultural de Lev Semenovich Vigotski e sua contribuição para a literatura infantil. Justifica-se tanto pela importância da teoria de Vigotski para a compreensão das relações entre emoções/sentimentos, literatura infantil e imaginação/criatividade, quanto pela necessidade de produção de práticas pedagógicas que levem as crianças a desenvolverem gosto pela leitura literária e compreensão das emoções/sentimentos. A pesquisa, de caráter bibliográfico e qualitativo, foi fundamentada na teoria de Vigotski (1994; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2003; 2004a; 2004b). Foi feita uma análise sobre como os livros de literatura infantil, destinados à faixa etária dos 3 aos 5 anos de idade, tematizam emoções e sentimentos. A pesquisa partiu do seguinte problema: como os livros de literatura infantil, acessíveis nas escolas públicas às crianças na faixa etária dos 3 aos 5 anos de idade, tematizam as emoções? O objetivo geral foi compreender as relações entre literatura infantil e desenvolvimento das emoções/sentimentos e criatividade/imaginação segundo a teoria de Vigotski. Para responder ao problema proposto, foram analisados os livros de literatura infantil distribuídos às escolas públicas de educação do Brasil, por meio do Programa Nacional de Biblioteca na Escola (PNBE/2014). Foi possível concluir que maior parte das obras de literatura infantil relaciona emoções e sentimentos como expressão estética e fruição das emoções. Apenas uma parcela mínima menciona os ensinamentos de ordem moral e comportamental. Também se verificou o emprego de palavras no aumentativo e diminutivo que denotam o exagero e textos curtos com a presença da onomatopeias. Na perspectiva Vigotskiana, a obra de arte que tem como finalidade o ensinamento de ordem moral e comportamental, pode provocar efeitos adversos. O papel da obra de arte deve ser a fruição estética, e não servir como pretexto para o ensino de determinado conteúdo.

In this Thesis, I systematize, clarify, and expand the current theory of emotion based on the principles of predictive processing-the interoceptive inference view of emotion-so as to show the following: (1) as it stands, this view is problematic. (2) Once expanded, the view in question can deal with its more pressing problems, and it compares favourably to competing accounts. Thus, the interoceptive inference view of emotion stands out as a plausible theory of emotion. According to the predictive processing (PP) framework, all what the brain does, in all its functions, is to minimize its precision-weighted prediction error (PE) (Clark, 2013, 2016; Hohwy, 2013). Roughly, PE consist in the difference between the sensory signals expected (and generated) from the top-down and the actual, incoming sensory signals. Now, in the PP framework, visual percepts are formed by minimizing visual PE in a specific manner: via visual perceptual inference. That is, the brain forms visual percepts in a top-down fashion by predicting its incoming lower-level sensory signals from higher-level models of the likely (hidden) causes of those visual signals. Such models can be seen as putting forward content-specifying hypotheses about the object or event responsible for triggering incoming sensory activity. A contentful percept is formed once a certain hypothesis achieves to successfully match, and thus supress, current lower-level sensory signals. In the interoceptive inference approach to interoception (Seth, 2013, 2015), the principles of PP have been extended to account for interoception, i.e., the perception of our homeostatic, physiological condition. Just as perception in the visual domain arises via visual perceptual inference, the interoceptive inference approach holds that perception of the inner, physiological milieu arises via interoceptive perceptual inference. Now, what might be called the interoceptive inference theory of valence (ITV) holds that the interoceptive inference approach can be used so as to account for subjective feeling states in general, i.e., mental states that feel good or bad-i.e., valenced mental states. According to ITV, affective valence arises by way of interoceptive perceptual inference. On the other hand, what might be called the interoceptive inference view of emotion (IIE) holds that the interoceptive inference approach can be used so as to account for emotions per se (e.g., fear, anger, joy). More precisely, IIE holds that, in direct analogy to the way in which visual percepts are formed, emotions arise from interoceptive predictions of the causes of current interoceptive afferents. In other words, emotions per se amount to interceptive percepts formed via higher-level, content-specifying emotion hypotheses. In this Thesis, I aim to systematize, clarify, and expand the interoceptive inference approach to interoception, in order to show that: (1) contrary to non-sensory theories of affective valence, valence is indeed constituted by interoceptive perceptions, and that interoceptive percepts do arise via interoceptive perceptual inference. Therefore, ITV holds. (2) Considering that IIE exhibits problematic assumptions, it should be amended. In this respect, I will argue that emotions do not arise via interoceptive perceptual inference (as IIE claims), since this assumes that there must be regularities pertaining to emotion in the physiological domain. I will suggest that emotions arise instead by minimizing interoceptive PE in another fashion. That is, emotions arise via external interoceptive active inference: by sampling and modifying the external environment in order to change an already formed interoceptive percept (which has been formed via interoceptive perceptual inference). That is, emotions are specific strategies for regulating affective valence. More precisely, I will defend the view that a certain emotion E amounts to a specific strategy for minimizing interoceptive PE by way of a specific set of stored knowledge of the counterfactual relations that obtain between (possible) actions and its prospective interoceptive, sensory consequences ("if I act in this manner, interoceptive signals should evolve in such-and-such way"). An emotion arises when such knowledge is applied in order to regulate valence.

While the study of emotions is of universal interest because of its central role in the social sciences and humanities, emotions are of special interest for South Africa for both theoretical and applied reasons. South Africa, with its eleven official languages, is a true multicultural society with extreme differences in terms of culture, acculturation, and socio-economic status. Cultural frameworks differ substantially between ethno-cultural groups, and clarification of the differences between cultural frameworks can counter interpretation biases that could result in daily frictions and major conflicts. Additional fundamental cross-cultural research on emotional differences between cultural groups, together with the generation of a mutual understanding of the different cultural frameworks, makes these frameworks explicit and facilitates the incorporation of these frameworks into daily communication and interaction processes. The objectives of this research were to determine what the emotion structure of the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda languages groups within a sample of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants is, and how it compares with the European Emotion Structure. Furthermore this research aimed to establish the emotion structure and the relevant and representative features for each emotion component (such as appraisals, action tendencies, and subjective experiences) that have been encoded in a sample of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants. Like\vise it was deemed necessary to verify (a) the extent to which the emotion words refer to specific positions on each of the emotion features of these language groups and (b) the extent of similarity or dissimilarity between emotion experiences of the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda groups in the SAPS, as well as to compare the meaning structure between a "bottom-up" and a "top-down" (as conducted in Nicholls' research in 2008) approach between Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants. A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives. The study population (n=390) consisted of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking entry-level police applicants from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda GRlD questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (multidimensional scaling and descriptive statistics) were used and Cronbachrs alpha coefficients were determined to analyse the results. Results of this study on the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda cultural groups indicated the extraction of a two-factor model within the Sepedi group. Due to the extremely low reliability analyses of the Xitsonga and Tshivenda language groups' data, a reliable scale analysis and the meaning structures of these two groups could not be determined. The low reliabilities could be attributed to the direct language translation of the questionnaire and the assessment may not have captured the full understanding of the items in the GRlD instrument. Results of this study for the Sepedi language group corresponded well with the results found in the study for the Sepedi group conducted by Nicholls (2008) on the emotion lexicon on the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda language groups in South Africa. The Nicholls study (2008) indicated the extraction of a three-dimensional structure (evaluation, arousal, dominance) and a four-factor loading (positive emotion, sadness, fear, anger) for the Sepedi-speaking language group. In comparison, this research presented the extraction of a two-dimensional structure (evaluation and arousal) and a two-factor loading (positive emotion and sadness). Emotion concepts of the Sepedi group indicated that basic emotion concepts (love, joy, anger, sadness, fear, and surprise) readily came to mind in both Nicholls' (2008) and this study. Emotion concepts listed by the Sepedi group could be interpreted as emotion words associated with social, personality or environmental aspects and may be related to negative evaluation, dominance and/or aggression. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

While the study of emotions is of universal interest because of its central role in the social sciences and humanities, emotions are of special interest for South Africa for both theoretical and applied reasons. South Africa, with its eleven official languages, is a true multicultural society with extreme differences in terms of culture, acculturation, and socio-economic status. Cultural frameworks differ substantially between ethno-cultural groups, and clarification of the differences between cultural frameworks can counter interpretation biases that could result in daily frictions and major conflicts. Additional fundamental cross-cultural research on emotional differences between cultural groups, together with the generation of a mutual understanding of the different cultural frameworks, makes these frameworks explicit and facilitates the incorporation of these frameworks into daily communication and interaction processes. The objectives of this research were to determine what the emotion structure of the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda languages groups within a sample of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants is, and how it compares with the European Emotion Structure. Furthermore this research aimed to establish the emotion structure and the relevant and representative features for each emotion component (such as appraisals, action tendencies, and subjective experiences) that have been encoded in a sample of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants. Like\vise it was deemed necessary to verify (a) the extent to which the emotion words refer to specific positions on each of the emotion features of these language groups and (b) the extent of similarity or dissimilarity between emotion experiences of the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda groups in the SAPS, as well as to compare the meaning structure between a "bottom-up" and a "top-down" (as conducted in Nicholls' research in 2008) approach between Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking participants. A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives. The study population (n=390) consisted of Sepedi-, Xitsonga- and Tshivenda-speaking entry-level police applicants from the South African Police Service (SAPS). The Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda GRlD questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (multidimensional scaling and descriptive statistics) were used and Cronbachrs alpha coefficients were determined to analyse the results. Results of this study on the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda cultural groups indicated the extraction of a two-factor model within the Sepedi group. Due to the extremely low reliability analyses of the Xitsonga and Tshivenda language groups' data, a reliable scale analysis and the meaning structures of these two groups could not be determined. The low reliabilities could be attributed to the direct language translation of the questionnaire and the assessment may not have captured the full understanding of the items in the GRlD instrument. Results of this study for the Sepedi language group corresponded well with the results found in the study for the Sepedi group conducted by Nicholls (2008) on the emotion lexicon on the Sepedi, Xitsonga and Tshivenda language groups in South Africa. The Nicholls study (2008) indicated the extraction of a three-dimensional structure (evaluation, arousal, dominance) and a four-factor loading (positive emotion, sadness, fear, anger) for the Sepedi-speaking language group. In comparison, this research presented the extraction of a two-dimensional structure (evaluation and arousal) and a two-factor loading (positive emotion and sadness). Emotion concepts of the Sepedi group indicated that basic emotion concepts (love, joy, anger, sadness, fear, and surprise) readily came to mind in both Nicholls' (2008) and this study. Emotion concepts listed by the Sepedi group could be interpreted as emotion words associated with social, personality or environmental aspects and may be related to negative evaluation, dominance and/or aggression. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Both pictures and films are widely used elicitors in experimental approach to emotions. However, there is no consensus regarding their relative impact. I describe conceptual underpinning of these methods, their theoretical comparison, and related methods. In a study of 124 students I assess and compare the impact of pictures and films on experiential, behavioural and physiological reactions. There were stronger reactions in response to positive film than to positive pictures. Negative film and pictures were similar in strength yet different in kind of reactions they yielded. The difference can be explained by different temporal characteristics of both methods. Present study is the second study dealing with this topic, and the only study that engaged multiple reaction levels. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Anthropologists claim that people in a variety of human societies differ enormously in how they experience, express and understand emotion (Kalat & Shiota, 2007). Research on emotions, around the world, has become increasingly popular during the past few decades. Emotion is involved in the mainstream of topics in psychology, be it about antecedents, emotional expressions and responses, or about the dimensions underlying the large emotion lexicon (Shaver, Schwartz, Kirson, & O’Connor, 1987). While the study of emotion is of universal interest, emotions are of special interest for South-Africa. By studying the emotion lexicon of the Setswana culture, an evidence-based intervention program could be implemented by the SAPS, which will be relevant and practical to address emotional needs and support for South African Police members to express their emotions more accurately. This will help to ensure a healthy, productive and motivated police service which is an important contributor to the society (Van der Doef & Maes, 1999). South Africa, a multi-cultural country, with its eleven official languages, makes an exceptional country for studying emotion as presented in different cultures. The main objective of this study was to investigate emotion and culture in accordance with a literature study, and to identify the different emotion words within the Setswana language group and determine the prototypical emotion words as well as the cognitive structure (different dimensions) of emotion concepts. A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives in a series of three phases (studies). The study population for the first (N=154) and third (N=140) phases consisted of entry level police applicants (students) from the South African Police Services. The study population (N=51) of the second phase consisted of Setswana language experts. Free Listing questionnaires, Prototypicality questionnaires and Similarity rating questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (Multidimensional Scaling and Descriptive Statistics) were used and Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated to analyse the results. Results of the Free Listing task gave a strong indication that basic emotion concepts of joy, sorrow and love readily came to mind in the Setswana group. Most prototypical concepts listed by the Setswana-speaking group were those of: “lela” (cry), “rata” (like), “go tenega” (fed up), “kgalefo” (warning), “lerato” (love), “boitumelo” (joy), “go utlusiswa botloko” (being hurt), “kwata” (anger), “amego maikutlo” (affection), “itumeletse” (elation), “botlhoko” (disappointment) and “itumela” (happiness). In order to determine the cognitive structure of emotion concepts, a multi-dimensional scaling was performed. A five-factorial solution was created with dimensions of Pleasantness, Yearning, Arousal, and Potency with the last dimension, “Go amega maikutlo”, being unique to the Setswana group. Suggestions were made concerning future studies on the emotion lexicon. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010

Anthropologists claim that people in a variety of human societies differ enormously in how they experience, express and understand emotion (Kalat & Shiota, 2007). Research on emotions, around the world, has become increasingly popular during the past few decades. Emotion is involved in the mainstream of topics in psychology, be it about antecedents, emotional expressions and responses, or about the dimensions underlying the large emotion lexicon (Shaver, Schwartz, Kirson, & O’Connor, 1987). While the study of emotion is of universal interest, emotions are of special interest for South-Africa. By studying the emotion lexicon of the Setswana culture, an evidence-based intervention program could be implemented by the SAPS, which will be relevant and practical to address emotional needs and support for South African Police members to express their emotions more accurately. This will help to ensure a healthy, productive and motivated police service which is an important contributor to the society (Van der Doef & Maes, 1999). South Africa, a multi-cultural country, with its eleven official languages, makes an exceptional country for studying emotion as presented in different cultures. The main objective of this study was to investigate emotion and culture in accordance with a literature study, and to identify the different emotion words within the Setswana language group and determine the prototypical emotion words as well as the cognitive structure (different dimensions) of emotion concepts. A survey design with convenience sampling was used to achieve the research objectives in a series of three phases (studies). The study population for the first (N=154) and third (N=140) phases consisted of entry level police applicants (students) from the South African Police Services. The study population (N=51) of the second phase consisted of Setswana language experts. Free Listing questionnaires, Prototypicality questionnaires and Similarity rating questionnaires were administered. Statistical methods and procedures (Multidimensional Scaling and Descriptive Statistics) were used and Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated to analyse the results. Results of the Free Listing task gave a strong indication that basic emotion concepts of joy, sorrow and love readily came to mind in the Setswana group. Most prototypical concepts listed by the Setswana-speaking group were those of: “lela” (cry), “rata” (like), “go tenega” (fed up), “kgalefo” (warning), “lerato” (love), “boitumelo” (joy), “go utlusiswa botloko” (being hurt), “kwata” (anger), “amego maikutlo” (affection), “itumeletse” (elation), “botlhoko” (disappointment) and “itumela” (happiness). In order to determine the cognitive structure of emotion concepts, a multi-dimensional scaling was performed. A five-factorial solution was created with dimensions of Pleasantness, Yearning, Arousal, and Potency with the last dimension, “Go amega maikutlo”, being unique to the Setswana group. Suggestions were made concerning future studies on the emotion lexicon. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010