WHAT FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS CAN OFFER TO THE STUDY OF EMOTIONS ANO THEIR OEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Regardless of a researcher’s theoretical orientation, emotions can be inferred only from behavior in context. While traditional theories of emotion of ten characterize emotions as organizers or motivators of human behavior and propose that environment plays an explicit role in emotional responding, the role of environmental events in determining emotional expression rarely has been systematically considered in such approaches. The thesis advanced in this paper addresses how a functional approach to the study of emotions can contribute to our understanding of emotions and their development and the role of environment in their expression.