Reflections on the use of self

My personal investment in the subject of this review stems from a combined interest in theories of emotion and in history. Emotional reactions are a central aspect of human existence that affect our lives from the cradle to the grave. In my opinion the metaphors of emotion as the colour of life, or that which lends spice to an otherwise dull existence, are entirely appropriate. In some ways my interest in emotion is the connection between my other interests in psychology as well. I have long had an interest in early development and even in this area it is the emotional development of the child that I am most interested in. I am also interested in the psychology of close relationships and the communication between partners. Emotion is an important factor in all close relationships and significantly affects issues of communication and

behaviour in general. My interest in attachment theory derives from its connection with both development and relationship and specifically the emotions that are involved in both processes.

Related to my fascination with the study of emotion is my interest in the history of psychology. The historical context of modem psychological theory is of profound importance since it is impossible to separate any contemporary theory from the centuries of related thought that precedes it. I find it fascinating to learn about the emergence of the science of psychology and the early attempts to free psychology from the philosophy that it sprang from. For me it is important to acknowledge these philosophical roots and be aware of the relationship that psychology has with this sister discipline. While it can be tempting to make psychology a very scientific and objective science, it is also important to remember that no research is ever entirely devoid of the influence of the person who conducts the research. History is full of examples of people who have researched areas that they were interested in for distinctly personal reasons. Wlien motivation is personal then it is likely that

interpretations and choices made along the way are also influenced by personal values and opinions. The entirely objective research within social science has been shown to be an illusion. With this acknowledgement it becomes relevant to examine the

historical context of modem psychological theory as well. The discourse of earlier theory will inevitably have an influence on modem theory even if that influence is seldom linear and straightforward. For me it is fascinating to examine the theories of

emotion of influential philosophers and recognise how aspects of their thought continue to exist in contemporary theory.

The most interesting aspect of conducting this review has probably been the process of becoming familiar with the writings of influential philosophers such as Spinoza and Descartes. Philosophers of this calibre are often mentioned in historical literature and in the past I have often read about their work but I have never read any of their

original writing. I have found it fascinating to read the original works and to find their exact formulations of thoughts that otherwise I have only read about in the words of other writers. Getting to know the theories of these great philosophers first-hand has been very interesting. At the same time it was also a considerable struggle to become acquainted with some of these works because they are quite unwelcoming in their style. Especially Spinoza proved to be a considerable challenge, but he is also famous for his being difficult to understand. Despite spending an inordinate amount of time trying to follow his ‘logical’ arguments through the various propositions of the Ethics I am still not sure whether I have actually fully understood his theory of emotion. Still, as with Descartes and Hume, it was a fascinating challenge to face, and when I

thought that I had grasped some central idea it was very rewarding. I found that reading the original works made it possible for me to contrast my own interpretation with that of others and this would often present interesting puzzles when there were any significant differences. From exploring these philosophical theories and finding their similarities with contemporary versions it has become evident that ideas are continually recycled and emerge in slightly different forms much later. While some aspects of theory, such as animal spirits flowing in the blood, clearly belong to a specific point in history; other aspects, as the value of moderation in emotional expression or the role of cognition in emotional processes, are more timeless and will reappear in later theories. I find that this emphasizes the importance of being aware of the historical context that theory exists in and not assuming that theory can be

objective and free of influence.

My own review of these theories is naturally influenced by my personal opinions about theories of emotion and the values placed on different emotions or on emotional

theory stems from my own reactions to theories where certain forms of emotional behaviour appear to be valued more highly than other forms. I also recognise that although I can understand the longing for an existence free from difficult emotions, I am still very critical of the Stoic ideal of the impassive sage and the associated condemnation of emotions that I would regard as natural. Emotions are personal and therefore the topic invites personal opinions that are affected by history, culture and life experience; I am no exception to this rule and neither are researchers within psychology.