The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades

In this article I consider the future of the field of emotion. My conclusion—borrowing the title of a little-remembered song from the 1980s—is that “the future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.” I begin this article by considering some of the many daunting conceptual and empirical challenges here; this is clearly not a field for the faint of heart. I then turn to some of the incredible conceptual and empirical opportunities here; there are so many it’s easy to feel dizzy. In the final section, I predict that the field of emotion will broaden and become more problem focused, and hazard a “top 10” list of hot topics.

[1]  Lisa Feldman Barrett,et al.  Functional grouping and cortical–subcortical interactions in emotion: A meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies , 2008, NeuroImage.

[2]  M. Siemer.  Mood-congruent cognitions constitute mood experience. , 2005, Emotion.

[3]  B. Mesquita,et al.  Cultural variations in emotions: a review. , 1992, Psychological bulletin.

[4]  Ross Buck,et al.  Mood and Emotion: A Comparison of Five Contemporary Views (Book) , 1990 .

[5]  R. Zajonc.  Feeling and thinking : Preferences need no inferences , 1980 .

[6]  A. Ohman.  Fear and anxiety : Evolutionary, cognitive and clinical perspectives , 1993 .

[7]  R. Lazarus.  A cognitivist's reply to Zajonc on emotion and cognition. , 1981 .

[8]  K. Lambert.  Handbook of Emotion Regulation , 2007 .

[9]  A. Hariri,et al.  Individual Differences in Typical Reappraisal Use Predict Amygdala and Prefrontal Responses , 2009, Biological Psychiatry.

[10]  R. Zajonc.  On the primacy of affect. , 1984 .

[11]  D. Keltner,et al.  Embarrassment: its distinct form and appeasement functions. , 1997, Psychological bulletin.

[12]  J. Gross,et al.  Cognitive Emotion Regulation , 2008, Current directions in psychological science.

[13]  Richard S. Lazarus,et al.  On the Primacy of Cognition. , 1984 .

[14]  P. Rozin.  Social Psychology and Science: Some Lessons From Solomon Asch , 2001 .

[15]  R. Levenson,et al.  The Intrapersonal Functions of Emotion , 1999 .

[16]  B. R. Schlenker.  Social psychology and science. , 1974 .

[17]  R. Zajonc.  A one-factor mind about mind and emotion. , 1981 .

[18]  Jessica L. Tracy,et al.  Show Your Pride , 2004, Psychological science.

[19]  J. Cacioppo,et al.  The affect system has parallel and integrative processing components: Form follows function. , 1999 .

[20]  Kristen A. Lindquist,et al.  Of Mice and Men: Natural Kinds of Emotions in the Mammalian Brain? A Response to Panksepp and Izard , 2007, Perspectives on psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

[21]  W. James,et al.  What Is an Emotion , 1977 .

[22]  P. Lang.  The emotion probe. Studies of motivation and attention. , 1995, The American psychologist.

[23]  Nico H. Frijda,et al.  Varieties of affect: Emotions and episodes, moods, and sentiments. , 1994 .

[24]  J. Gross.  The Emerging Field of Emotion Regulation: An Integrative Review , 1998 .

[25]  L. Feldman.  Valence Focus and Arousal Focus: Individual Differences in the Structure of Affective Experience , 1995 .

[26]  A. Reiner,et al.  The Triune Brain in Evolution. Role in Paleocerebral Functions. Paul D. MacLean. Plenum, New York, 1990. xxiv, 672 pp., illus. $75. , 1990, Science.

[27]  J. Gross,et al.  The tie that binds? Coherence among emotion experience, behavior, and physiology. , 2005, Emotion.

[28]  A. Reeves,et al.  The Triune Brain in Evolution: Role in Paleocerebml Functions , 1992 .

[29]  W. James.  II.—WHAT IS AN EMOTION ? , 1884 .