The modern university segments research and knowledge into disciples, each devoted to a specific domain of inquiry. While that segmentation enables focused programs of research it brings a risk of a too narrow focus. Disciplines too often live within the arbitrary walls of their own construction. This is particularly problematic when the focus turns to human nature, in general, and emotion in particular. Emotion has attracted the interest of researchers in several disciplines over the years. But that segmentation of the research by discipline, has generated protected fiefdoms, which discourages engagement both across disciplinary boundaries and even within disciplines between contending research programs. Too often published articles rarely engage with others using other theoretical approaches. And, on the occasion when they do, the engagement is too frequently defensive.
The project seeks to explore a new approach, here focused on achieving a better understanding of emotion in these three major disciplines: psychology, political psychology and political science. The goal is to advance progress towards generating a fuller theory of emotion.
This Research Topic is different from the usual Frontiers model. It offers the opportunity for a direct engagement between authors within and across the three disciplines. The starting point is a target article written by Prof. George Marcus, “Evaluating the Status of Theories of Emotion in Political Science and Psychology” Frontiers in Political Science , 4 (2023), pp. 1-20. To order his assessment, Prof. Marcus identifies 7 criteria that he holds as minimal and uncontested standards that a theory of emotion should successfully address:
• a formal scientific definition of the phenomenon, emotion
• a taxonomy of emotion
• an array of testable causal claims, both emotion as antecedent and as consequential
• a measurement component
• an eagerness to test claims, especially against contrary theoretically driven programs
• accounts for preconscious affective processing
• accounts for multiple concurrent parallel affective processing
His target paper examines research over the span of some 70 years and highlights four current approaches that are active in political science and psychology:
• the valence approach
• appraisal theories of emotion
• the theory of affective intelligence
• the emotion regulation approach.
He assesses whether each successfully addresses the seven criteria.
The editors welcome papers to comment on Prof. Marcus’ conclusions and broaden the discussion. We hope to draw on scholars from each of the three disciplines whether those who have newly or long engaged in research on emotions. It is our hope that the critique embedded in the target paper and the peer commentaries will identify and thereafter drive research to bolster now deficient areas of research.
Keywords:
emotion, valence, appraisal theory, affective intelligence theory, emotion regulation, neuroscience
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
The modern university segments research and knowledge into disciples, each devoted to a specific domain of inquiry. While that segmentation enables focused programs of research it brings a risk of a too narrow focus. Disciplines too often live within the arbitrary walls of their own construction. This is particularly problematic when the focus turns to human nature, in general, and emotion in particular. Emotion has attracted the interest of researchers in several disciplines over the years. But that segmentation of the research by discipline, has generated protected fiefdoms, which discourages engagement both across disciplinary boundaries and even within disciplines between contending research programs. Too often published articles rarely engage with others using other theoretical approaches. And, on the occasion when they do, the engagement is too frequently defensive.
The project seeks to explore a new approach, here focused on achieving a better understanding of emotion in these three major disciplines: psychology, political psychology and political science. The goal is to advance progress towards generating a fuller theory of emotion.
This Research Topic is different from the usual Frontiers model. It offers the opportunity for a direct engagement between authors within and across the three disciplines. The starting point is a target article written by Prof. George Marcus, “Evaluating the Status of Theories of Emotion in Political Science and Psychology” Frontiers in Political Science , 4 (2023), pp. 1-20. To order his assessment, Prof. Marcus identifies 7 criteria that he holds as minimal and uncontested standards that a theory of emotion should successfully address:
• a formal scientific definition of the phenomenon, emotion
• a taxonomy of emotion
• an array of testable causal claims, both emotion as antecedent and as consequential
• a measurement component
• an eagerness to test claims, especially against contrary theoretically driven programs
• accounts for preconscious affective processing
• accounts for multiple concurrent parallel affective processing
His target paper examines research over the span of some 70 years and highlights four current approaches that are active in political science and psychology:
• the valence approach
• appraisal theories of emotion
• the theory of affective intelligence
• the emotion regulation approach.
He assesses whether each successfully addresses the seven criteria.
The editors welcome papers to comment on Prof. Marcus’ conclusions and broaden the discussion. We hope to draw on scholars from each of the three disciplines whether those who have newly or long engaged in research on emotions. It is our hope that the critique embedded in the target paper and the peer commentaries will identify and thereafter drive research to bolster now deficient areas of research.
Keywords:
emotion, valence, appraisal theory, affective intelligence theory, emotion regulation, neuroscience
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.