Emotions and Life: Perspectives from Psychology, Biology, and Evolution

by Robert Plutchik

Emotions are powerful forces influencing our everyday behaviour. People laugh, cry, fall in love, or blow up buildings under the influence of emotions. Most of the current diagnoses of mental disorders involve one or more emotions that have gone awry. Yet until recently, emotions have not received the attention they deserve in college and university psychology courses. There are many reasons for this neglect; they concern linguistic, experiential, historical and philosophical issues, and all are explored in depth in this work. The book attempts to shed light on the nature and function of emotions, drawing on the latest theories in evolutionary psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as the older, established motivational and psychodynamic traditions. Author Robert Plutchik demonstrates the fundamental importance of emotions to all living creatures, and their crucial role in ensuring both bodily and genetic survival.

Genres: Psychology, Emotion

592 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Torsionthirtyseven]

An extremely comprehensive reference book on emotions and what is known about them for humans and animals. Basically, its a summary of all the science in one book. Very useful.

[Bülent Demir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. It is not a novel like. Scientific inspection of how emotion is in life.