The self and emotions

(from the introduction) In this chapter, the author discusses emotions. Emotions, according to the author's componential emotion theory (1986) are always about something; they emerge in the person's relationship with the world. In addition, emotions signal that one's own person is at stake. Moreover, emotions can be conceptualized as fluid processes rather than structures or entities. The author addresses the nature of emotions and discusses how emotions are related to the self. He argues that emotions do not require a representation of self, because they include responses to perceived events in which the self is not explicitly appraised. However, from an early age emotions imply what William James called a notion of "I"-the center of experience and action. A commentary by S. Epstein is included