I think it goes both ways. Beliefs create emotions, but emotions also create beliefs about how to avoid or re-experience those emotions, and then those new beliefs can give rise to new emotions. E.g. the father’s confidently authoritative behavior creates an emotional experience of being oppressed and unheard, which creates the belief that confidence makes people feel oppressed in general, which in turn gives rise to the emotion of self-doubt to avoid being confident.
It’s unclear to me where the thing bottoms out; probably at some level of biologically hardwired reactions where the distinction between an emotion and a belief gets blurred. (E.g. if a baby has a hardwired reaction to experience distress when exposed to sudden loud noises, and then to calm down if exposed to soothing stimuli, can there said to be some beliefs involved? In one sense no, if they’re just hardwired reactions. In another sense yes, if we think of evolution having pre-programmed the baby’s brain with beliefs about what’s a sign of danger or safety.)
I think it goes both ways. Beliefs create emotions, but emotions also create beliefs about how to avoid or re-experience those emotions, and then those new beliefs can give rise to new emotions.
I like this more, though personally I’d say it as “beliefs create emotions, and emotions prioritize the updating of beliefs”
E.g. if a baby has a hardwired reaction to experience distress when exposed to sudden loud noises, and then to calm down if exposed to soothing stimuli, can there said to be some beliefs involved? In one sense no, if they’re just hardwired reactions. In another sense yes, if we think of evolution having pre-programmed the baby’s brain with beliefs about what’s a sign of danger or safety.
Yeah those two things seem like the same thing to me
I think I actually have an idea of what the objective bottom might be («membranes»)— I’ve been meaning to DM you, will do that if not reach out through a mutual soon.
I think it goes both ways. Beliefs create emotions, but emotions also create beliefs about how to avoid or re-experience those emotions, and then those new beliefs can give rise to new emotions. E.g. the father’s confidently authoritative behavior creates an emotional experience of being oppressed and unheard, which creates the belief that confidence makes people feel oppressed in general, which in turn gives rise to the emotion of self-doubt to avoid being confident.
It’s unclear to me where the thing bottoms out; probably at some level of biologically hardwired reactions where the distinction between an emotion and a belief gets blurred. (E.g. if a baby has a hardwired reaction to experience distress when exposed to sudden loud noises, and then to calm down if exposed to soothing stimuli, can there said to be some beliefs involved? In one sense no, if they’re just hardwired reactions. In another sense yes, if we think of evolution having pre-programmed the baby’s brain with beliefs about what’s a sign of danger or safety.)
I like this more, though personally I’d say it as “beliefs create emotions, and emotions prioritize the updating of beliefs”
Yeah those two things seem like the same thing to me
I think I actually have an idea of what the objective bottom might be («membranes»)— I’ve been meaning to DM you, will do that if not reach out through a mutual soon.