Reading emotions from language: A hypothesis on their reciprocal relationship
Journal
Psychology of Learning and Motivation - Advances in Research and Theory
Date Issued
2024-01-01
Author(s)
Abstract
Emotions play a pivotal role in shaping human experiences and interpersonal communication. Emotional expression via language has been shown to be essential for overall psychosocial well-being, whereas ineffective expression of emotion through language can pose a critical barrier. While the capacity to convey emotions through abstract symbols like language is a relatively recent evolutionary development compared to the ancient neural machinery governing emotion processing, there is a growing recognition of the necessity to understand how the human brain has adapted to provide mechanisms for emotion communication. In this light, understanding the interface between language and emotion in the brain has fundamental implications for real societal challenges. In this chapter, we explore the reciprocal relationship between language and emotion within the brain, grounded in the theoretical perspectives of the emotion constructionist framework and recent connectivity findings. While research increasingly acknowledges the role of language behaviors in significantly influencing the construction and experience of emotional concepts, we also highlight cases wherein emotional states exert profound influences on various aspects of language processing. We propose that integrated emotion-cognition circuits give rise to more effective predictive processing and, upon updating emotion concepts, also alter evaluation connotations associated with other lexical representations. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying these reciprocal influences and put forth testable predictions, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between language and emotion in the human brain.
Type
book part