Feelings

This book aims to pinpoint the connection feelings have with behavior -- a connection that, while clear, has never been fully explained. Following William James, Laird argues that feelings are not the cause of behavior but rather its consequences; the same goes for behavior and motives and behavior and attitudes. He presents research into feelings across the spectrum, from anger to joy to fear to romantic love, that support this against-the-grain view. Laird discusses the problem of...
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This book aims to pinpoint the connection feelings have with behavior -- a connection that, while clear, has never been fully explained. Following William James, Laird argues that feelings are not the cause of behavior but rather its consequences; the same goes for behavior and motives and behavior and attitudes. He presents research into feelings across the spectrum, from anger to joy to fear to romantic love, that support this against-the-grain view. Laird discusses the problem of common sense, self-perception theory, the association between feelings and higher cognitive processes, and also the literature on facial expression, posture, and gaze.