THE PARADIGMATIC BEHAVIORISM THEORY OF EMOTIONS - BASIS FOR UNIFICATION

This article presents a multilevel framework theory of emotions that includes theory bridges by which to unify the various concepts and mini-theories across a diverse literature. The integration of knowledge of the biological foundations of emotions with behavioral principles is made possible by defining emotions as central nervous system responses that must be distinguished from the physiological indices commonly employed to measure emotions. Emotion is considered to provide a basic definition of reinforcement and also of the incentive function of stimuli. Unlike traditional behavioristic approaches, the theory states that more than the basic principles are required for a unified theory of emotions that applies widely to human behavior. To achieve this, various levels of theory development are necessary. Following this conception, the theory elaborates additional principles and concepts that allow the treatment of such topics as cognition-emotion relationships, cognitive reward and punishment and cognitive incentives, the emotional-motivational aspects of personality. Finally, the role of these aspects of personality in abnormal behavior is exemplified in recent theory developments applying paradigmatic behaviorism's theory of emotion to the clinical problems of depression and anxiety. This article defines, by example, what a framework theory is: more detailed and connected to empirical events at some points than others, but with its "interstitial spaces" stated in a manner intended to be heuristic to enable the integration of a widely diverse literature as well as generate new theory and research. © 1990.