Theoretical Developments in the study of Emotions: from Core Affect to Contemporary semiotic models

Journal title RIVISTA DI PSICOLOGIA CLINICA
Author/s maria rita serio
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2026/1
Language Italian Pages 28 P. 69-96 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/rpc1-2026oa22590
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Emotional experience represents a multidimensional phenomenon that intersects cognitive, somatic, and sociocultural processes. The present contribution offers a systematic analysis of the evolution of psychological theories of emotion, tracing a trajectory from classical formulations to contemporary models. Three major theoretical perspectives are critically examined: the dimensional model of core affect (Russell, 1980, 2003), the psychological constructionist theory (Barrett, 2017), and the hierarchical approach of affective neuroscience (Panksepp, 1998, 2014).

The article explores theoretical convergences, epistemological divergences, and empirical evidence supporting each framework, highlighting how these perspectives have progressively reshaped the understanding of affectivity. In the concluding section, the model of Affective Pertinentization (APER; Salvatore et al., 2024) is introduced. Building on the semiotic theory of Valsiner (2007, 2014), this model conceptualizes affectivity as a primary semiotic process in the construction of meaning.

The comparative analysis shows that, despite differing epistemological assumptions, these perspectives converge in recognizing the processual, multilevel, and contextually situated nature of emotional experience, with significant implications for both basic research and clinical practice.

Keywords: Emotions; Affectivity, Affective Neuroscience, Psychological Constructionism; Core Affect; Affective Semiotics; Affective pertinentization model

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maria rita serio, Evoluzione Teorica nello studio delle Emozioni: dal Core Affect ai modelli semiotici contemporanei in "RIVISTA DI PSICOLOGIA CLINICA" 1/2026, pp 69-96, DOI: 10.3280/rpc1-2026oa22590