A hyper-emotion theory of psychological illnesses.

Abstract

A hyper-emotion theory of psychological illnesses is presented. It postulates that these illnesses have an onset in which a cognitive evaluation initiates a sequence of unconscious transitions yielding a basic emotion. This emotion is appropriate for the situation but inappropriate in its intensity. Whenever it recurs, it leads individuals to a focus on the precipitating situation and to characteristic patterns of inference that can bolster the illness. Individuals with a propensity to psychological illness accordingly reason better than more robust individuals, but only on topics relevant to their illness. The theory is assessed in the light of previous research, a small epidemiological study of patients, and 3 empirical studies.

An experimental re-examination of the inferential confusion hypothesis of obsessive–compulsive doubt

“…This pattern of results supports the domain-specific approaches to OCD (e.g. Aardema et al, 2009;Johnson-Laird et al, 2006), especially those that postulate that people with this disorder are primarily concerned with events that involve personal responsibility and/or guilt (e.g., Arntz et al, 2007;Mancini & Gangemi, 2004aShapiro & Stewart, 2011). Whereas the possibility of causing a car accident clearly provokes these types of concerns, the possibility of a bus strike does not.…”

Effects of an emotion control treatment on academic emotions, motivation and achievement in an online mathematics course

“…The appraisal process can be either conscious or non-conscious and either automatic or deliberate (Gross 2008;Johnson-Laird and Mancini 2006;). Our emotion control treatment aimed to help initiate students' conscious awareness of their emotions and deliberate appraisals that could lead to automation later on.…”

Emotional intelligence and mental disorder

“…Research on emotional intelligence in clinical groups is still rare even though clinical theorizing and empirical research clearly state that almost any mental disorder is linked to emotional problems (e.g., Johnson-Laird, Mancini, & Gangemi, 2006;Legenbauer, Vocks, & Ru¨ddel, 2008;Thoits, 1985). Certain disorders seem especially afflicted with emotional problems; for example, affective disorders, substance abuse disorders, and personality disorders include intense emotional disturbances, but there is variation as to the quality and intensity of emotions (e.g., intense or excessive feelings of anger in borderline personality disorder, inability to experience pleasure in patients with major depressive disorder).…”