<p><strong>Human emotions</strong>, from <strong>a scientific perspective</strong>, is still quite a blurry topic. There is no clear distinction between feelings, emotions, affects. Even in scientific context most of the time we are using those terms with their dictionary, or rather 'common-sense' meaning. There is no clear scientific definition (<em>afaik</em>).</p>
<p>In the science of psychology it was poisoned by the <em>&quot;mind-body dualistic&quot;</em> superstitions, even among the famous researchers.</p>
<p>Already <strong>Charles Darwin</strong> shined some light on evolutionary function of emotions.</p>
<p><strong>Paul Ekman</strong> coined his famous theory of basic/prototypical emotions and shown their direct linkage with facial expressions among human species. But already it was shown not to be accurate, if not disproved.</p>
<p><strong>Robert Plutchik</strong> build a nice classification model of emotional responses in a psychoevolutionary context. I am not sure how extensively this particular theory was tested and proven.</p>
<p><strong>Lisa Feldman-Barret</strong> proposed recently theory of constructed emotions which emphasises their cognitive (and social-adaptive) aspect.</p>
<p>In the field of neuroscience researchers like <strong>Mark Solms</strong> have shown some underlying mechanisms in a deep brain and cortex that are directly involved in generating 'things' that we usually call emotions or feelings.</p>
<h3>Question</h3>
<p>What is the current (2021 CE) <strong>state-of-the-art theory of emotion/affect/feelings</strong>? Who among the top researchers and institutions is trying to solve this problem from a scientific perspective?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-11T07:52:40.060Z
The way this question is titled and written initially is fine but the last paragraph turns it into more of a discussion which is not really the way StackExchange works. If you want to know about the latest findings, then that is fine, but to ask for a discussion on the top researchers and whether their latest findings are scientific or not, StackExchange is not the place. This is a question and answer site. For an overview on the science/pseudoscience of psychology see [my meta answer and others](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/a/2248)
Chris Rogers
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-11T14:27:28.183Z
Sure. I tried my question to be 'what are the current state-of-the-art theories regarded by the scientific community', which I expect to be here, who is working on it. I might elaborate too much on the topic, but only to show that I did some digging on my own, which I don't expect to be extensive.
Pawel
<emotion><neuropsychology><affective-neuroscience>
What is the current (2021) state-of-the-art theory of emotions?
Pawel
# What is the current (2021) state-of-the-art theory of emotions?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-05)

**Human emotions**, from **a scientific perspective**, is still quite a blurry topic. There is no clear distinction between feelings, emotions, affects. Even in scientific context most of the time we are using those terms with their dictionary, or rather 'common-sense' meaning. There is no clear scientific definition (*afaik*).

In the science of psychology it was poisoned by the *"mind-body dualistic"* superstitions, even among the famous researchers.

Already **Charles Darwin** shined some light on evolutionary function of emotions.

**Paul Ekman** coined his famous theory of basic/prototypical emotions and shown their direct linkage with facial expressions among human species. But already it was shown not to be accurate, if not disproved.

**Robert Plutchik** build a nice classification model of emotional responses in a psychoevolutionary context. I am not sure how extensively this particular theory was tested and proven.

**Lisa Feldman-Barret** proposed recently theory of constructed emotions which emphasises their cognitive (and social-adaptive) aspect.

In the field of neuroscience researchers like **Mark Solms** have shown some underlying mechanisms in a deep brain and cortex that are directly involved in generating 'things' that we usually call emotions or feelings.

### Question

What is the current (2021 CE) **state-of-the-art theory of emotion/affect/feelings**? Who among the top researchers and institutions is trying to solve this problem from a scientific perspective?

**Tags:** emotion, neuropsychology, affective-neuroscience

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The way this question is titled and written initially is fine but the last paragraph turns it into more of a discussion which is not really the way StackExchange works. If you want to know about the latest findings, then that is fine, but to ask for a discussion on the top researchers and whether their latest findings are scientific or not, StackExchange is not the place. This is a question and answer site. For an overview on the science/pseudoscience of psychology see [my meta answer and others](https://psychology.meta.stackexchange.com/a/2248)  
> **username_0**: Sure. I tried my question to be 'what are the current state-of-the-art theories regarded by the scientific community', which I expect to be here, who is working on it. I might elaborate too much on the topic, but only to show that I did some digging on my own, which I don't expect to be extensive.  

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## 0 answers

