The Nature of Emotion: Fundamental Questions (Series in Affective Science) [Paperback]

Paul Ekman (Editor), Richard J. Davidson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0195089448 | ISBN-13: 978-0195089448 | Edition: 1

The editors of this unique volume have selected 24 leading emotion theorists and asked them to address 12 fundamental questions about the subject of emotion. For example; Are there basic emotions? How do you distinguish emotions from moods, temperament, and emotional traits? Can we control our emotions? Can emotions be non-conscious? What is the relation between emotion and memory? What develops in emotional development? Each chapter addresses a different one of these fundamental questions about emotion, with often divergent answers from several of leading researchers represented here: James Averill, Gordon Bower, Linda Camras, Lee Clark, Gerald Clore, Richard Davidson, Judy Dunn, Paul Ekman, Phoebe Ellsworth, Nico Frijda, Hill Goldsmith, Jeffrey Gray, Carroll Izard, Jerome Kaga, Richard Lazarus, Joseph Le Doux, Robert Levenson, Jaak Panksepp, Mary Rothbart, Klaus Shere, Richard Shweder, David Watson, and Robert Zajonc. At the end of each chapter, the editors--Ekman and Davidson--highlight the areas of agreement and disagreement about each of the 12 questions about emotion. In the final chapter, Affective Science: A Research Agenda, the editors describe the research they believe would help answer each of the questions. Not a textbook offering a single viewpoint, The Nature of Emotion, uniquely reveals the central issues in emotion research and theory in the words of many of the leading scientists working in the field today. It is ideal for students, researchers, and clinicians interested in emotion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent selection of readings!"--Jeffrey Cohn, University of Pittsburgh

"Includes all of the important theory, research and data on the major issues in emotions."--Thomas Hershberger, Chatham College

"Valuable entry to the literature on the pervasive impact of emotion in many research problem areas of psychology."--R. Dale Dick, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

"An outstanding text--much more than just a compilation of articles--rich in scope and information, well organized and put together with a fine discussion by the editors at the end of each section."--Philip Very, National-Louis University

About the Author

Dr. Paul Ekman, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D. is Williams James Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Product Details

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1 edition (December 22, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195089448
• ISBN-13: 978-0195089448
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Behavioral Sciences > Behavioral Psychology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Looking Dated, April 19, 2003

By 

Ian Wilson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nature of Emotion: Fundamental Questions (Series in Affective Science) (Paperback)

While the research contained in this book offer some interesting information much of the work looks very dated. While it was published in 1995 that is a very long time when it comes to neuroscience. Around that time there began an explosion of brain imaging studies using newly developed brain imaging technologies. This has allowed brain and behavior researchers to understand at a much deeper level the processes involved in for example emotion.

I suggest looking at the very latest in publications. For example Joseph LeDoux (who has entries here that are head and shoulders above the other contributers)