Experts in Emotion 13.1 -- Jennifer Lerner on Emotion and Judgment

Summary

In an insightful discussion, Dr. Jennifer Lerner from Harvard Kennedy School explores the intricate relationship between emotions and decision-making. Initially focused on moral outrage, she discovered the importance of emotional triggers in influencing judgments. Her Appraisal Tendency Framework reveals that specific emotions, like anger and sadness, shape perceptions and risk-taking behavior in predictable ways. Lerner emphasizes the relevance of emotion research in public policy and economic behavior, advocating for a nuanced understanding of emotions to enhance decision-making processes. She encourages rigorous inquiry in the field, highlighting its interdisciplinary potential and real-world implications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dr. Jennifer Lerner is a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and a pioneer in the study of emotion and decision-making.
• 😀 Lerner's research combines psychology, economics, and neuroscience to explore how emotions influence judgments.
• 😀 Her shift from studying moral outrage to emotions was inspired by the realization that emotional triggers are essential for strong responses.
• 😀 The Appraisal Tendency Framework links specific emotions to predictable outcomes in judgment and decision-making.
• 😀 Incidental emotions can carry over from unrelated events, influencing decisions in ways individuals often do not recognize.
• 😀 Integral emotions are relevant to specific decisions, making their influence on judgment more defensible.
• 😀 Sadness can lead to irrational financial decisions by causing individuals to undervalue future rewards.
• 😀 The effects of fear and anger on risk perception are opposite: anger increases risk-taking, while fear leads to avoidance.
• 😀 Lerner aims to apply her findings to public policy, helping decision-makers understand the role of emotion in economic behavior.
• 😀 The future of emotion research is promising, with an emphasis on separating scientifically valid insights from popular misconceptions.

Q & A

What sparked Dr. Jennifer Lerner's interest in studying emotion?

Dr. Lerner initially aimed to study moral outrage in decision-making but found that her subjects were unresponsive to her cognitive scenarios. A conversation with Bob Levinson led her to realize the importance of emotions in eliciting strong responses.

What is the appraisal tendency framework developed by Dr. Lerner?

The appraisal tendency framework posits that specific emotions are associated with predictable judgment and decision-making outcomes. Understanding the cognitive structure of emotions allows for accurate predictions in how emotions influence decisions.

How does incidental emotion affect decision-making?

Incidental emotions, such as anger from a prior event, can carry over and influence unrelated decisions. For example, anger can increase risk-taking behavior, even if the source of the anger is unrelated to the decision at hand.

What distinguishes integral emotions from incidental emotions?

Integral emotions are directly relevant to the decision being made, while incidental emotions arise from unrelated events but still affect decision-making. For instance, anger related to a car accident is integral when deciding on car insurance, while anger from a traffic incident is incidental when discussing other risks.

What implications does Dr. Lerner's research have for public policy?

Dr. Lerner aims to apply her findings on emotion and decision-making to public policy challenges, particularly in understanding economic behavior and enhancing decision-making processes in government and organizations.

How does sadness influence economic decision-making according to Dr. Lerner's studies?

Dr. Lerner's research indicates that sadness can lead to irrational spending behaviors, as individuals under the influence of sadness tend to make less rational financial decisions, often failing to recognize the impact of their emotional state on their choices.

What are the different effects of fear and anger on risk perception?

Fear and anger, although both negative emotions, have opposite effects on risk perception. Fear is associated with uncertainty and withdrawal, leading to more cautious decisions, while anger fosters a sense of certainty and control, resulting in greater risk-taking.

What challenges does the field of emotion research currently face?

Dr. Lerner highlights the need to separate scientifically valid findings from pop psychology trends, as the increasing interest in emotion research may lead to the proliferation of unscientific practices and misleading assessments in the field.

What advice does Dr. Lerner give to students interested in emotion research?

She encourages students to pursue rigorous training, question existing assumptions in the field, and engage in thorough testing of their hypotheses, rather than relying on lay intuitions or established models.

What role does Dr. Lerner's work play in understanding economic decision-making?

Dr. Lerner's work enhances the understanding of how emotional states affect economic decisions, helping to identify factors that influence saving behavior and financial choices in the context of public policy.