Cognitive Study of the Emotions in Drama

Abstract

Abstract: In terms of valence, negative emotions tend to attract more attention and focalize more cognition than positive emotions. Emotions of high motivational intensity and arousal may focus attraction and cognition on one point more easily. During the pre-goal phase, our attention and cognition incline to have a narrow focus. In a situation that is contrary to the above-mentioned cases, our attention and cognition could have more breadth, flexibility, and creativity. Drama favors choosing negative emotions with high motivational intensity and arousal and focusing its maneuvering on the pre-goal phase in order to engage the audience closely, but such highly dramatic situations will allow much less cognitive flexibility, creativity, and diversity.

Key words: drama, emotions, cognition

He Huibin. Cognitive Study of the Emotions in Drama[J]. Foreign Literature Studies, 2021, 43(5): 79-92.

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