Imaginary Relish and Exquisite Torture: The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of Desire.

Abstract

The elaborated intrusion theory of desire 2 Imaginary relish and exquisite torture: The Elaborated Intrusion Theory of desire AbstractWe argue that human desire involves conscious cognition that has strong affective connotation and is potentially involved in the determination of appetitive behavior rather than being epiphenomenal to it. Intrusive thoughts about appetitive targets are triggered automatically by external or physiological cues and by cognitive associates. . When intrusions elicit significant pleasure or relief, cognitive elaboration usually ensues. Elaboration competes with concurrent cognitive tasks through retrieval of target-related information and its retention in working memory. Sensory images are especially important products of intrusion and elaboration, since they simulate the sensory and emotional qualities of target acquisition. Desire images are momentarily rewarding, but amplify awareness of somatic and emotional deficits. Effects of desires on behavior are moderated by competing incentives, target availability and skills. The theory provides a coherent account of existing data and suggests new directions for research and treatment.A cognitive-emotional model of desire 3 The imaginary relish is so sweetThat it enchants my sense. (Shakespeare, Troilus & Cressida, Act 3, Scene 2).Here you are, innocently reading a psychology journal, and a paper suddenly mentions someone drinking a cup of excellent coffee at a sidewalk café on a sunny Sunday morning. Chances are that you immediately imagine how good it would be to have a cup yourself. Maybe you imagine the smell of the freshly ground coffee beans, the smell and taste of the coffee, perhaps even the sound of the grinder and the bubble and steam of the espresso machine. If you do not especially enjoy coffee, or have just finished a cup, this image may have little appeal. But if you would really enjoy a cup of coffee right now, the image has a pleasurable piquancy -a tantalizing enchantment that, like a tickle to your foot, moves easily to a sense of torture if the desire cannot be fulfilled. From its inception, the thought captures your attention. It has strong emotive power, and there is a sense that it triggers action. You may even feel unable to continue to read this paper until you get a cup.What are the essential elements of this subjective experience? Our impression is that they include the intrusive and often unexpected nature of the initial thought, the imagery of the coffee and of drinking it, and the pleasure and torture that image brings. Once begun, it is difficult to stop thinking about it-in fact, it is difficult to think about anything else. If the affective impact of the desire is particularly strong, its fulfilment may seem imperative, although of course it is not inevitable.In this paper, we describe an Elaborated Intrusion (EI) Theory of desires, which embodies these key aspects of the subjective phenomena as well as encompassing the wide range of related empirical evidence. As its name suggests, the theory distinguishes ...

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