A Theory of Emotions Plausibly Consistent with CBT

Abstract

Emotions are complex phenomena constituted by several dimensions. Among them, their intentionality, their phenomenology, their natural history, their developmental course and their normativity. Focusing on some of these dimensions, several theories of emotions have been proposed. At the same time, there is a scientifically supported therapy for emotional disturbances, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), that points out to the centrality of the normative dimension of emotions. This paper is about finding a theory of emotions, among the already existent, not only consistent with CBT, and the normativity implied by it, but also with a satisfactory explanation of the other mentioned dimensions. That is, a theory of emotions plausibly consistent with CBT.