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9. Self and Emotion..........................................................

Chapter 9

“Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part

governed by the impulse of passion.

— Alexander Hamilton, 1802

Overview: Emotion (or affect) is the bodily reaction to a stimulus when such a
stimulus is of relevance to the preservation of self. Emotion is the driving force
for action. The desirability of a stimulus can be placed on a value spectrum rep-
resenting a continuum from the most desirable to the least (the most aversive).
Emotion is most intense when a stimulus is at either end of the spectrum, whereas
in the middle (neither good nor bad) it is neutral and does not elicit a response.
The physiology of emotion can be divided into a peripheral and a cen-
tral component. The peripheral component (emotional outburst) is the outcome
of sympathetic discharge. It is outwardly observable and internally felt by the
agent. The central component, comprising the various subcortical emotional
centers and part of the cerebral cortex, serves as the evaluator as to whether a
sympathetic discharge should be mounted. The central component also provides
a sustained background feeling (or mood) when the emotion is not outwardly
expressed. The cerebral cortex is in constant negotiation with the subcortical
emotional centers. When the former has the upper hand, we see reason sup-
pressing primitive impulse; when the latter dominates, we see emotion under-
mining rational thinking.
Art is an extracorporeal projection of emotion. Once created, art assumes
an independent existence and continues to influence the observers even in the
absence of its creator.