Emotions, Voluntary or Involuntary?

[SEVERUSMAX]

I take the view that they are involuntary biochemical reactions of the brain to certain stimuli, such as thoughts, facts, and physical circumstances.

You don't choose to love or desire someone. You just do.

It chooses you.

Opinions?

 

[BlackShanglan]

I think emotions largely involuntary, but what actions we take in reaction to them wholly a matter of choice.

I do say "largely" because some patterns of thought and emotion are habitual and can be shaped or gradually changed. Nothing is likely to instantly remove the grief of losing a loved one, but an habitual feeling of irritation with small obstacles is something one can learn to cut off and redirect.

Shanglan

 

[Liar]

Speaking only about myself here... I have never been able to choose what I'll feel. But I can, to some degree, control the magnitude of it. To cool a feeling off if I need to , or fire it up if I wish.

 

[elsol]

Both...

You can choose to hate.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[zeb1094]

Both...

You can choose to hate.

Sincerely,
ElSol

And that's easy for a lot of people! The choice, not to hate is hard for most too!

 

[Liar]

Both...

You can choose to hate.

Sincerely,
ElSol

I don't regard hate an emotion. Rage is an emotion. Hate is a strategy. Close cousin to blame.

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Love and desire: no choice whatsoever. You get what you get and you'll deal with it Skippy.

Emotions: Mostly involuntary as others said. You can't choose to have it, but you can bury it with intense effort. Anyone who has fought valliantly against a dangerous mad-on or has some ritual to beat a depression spiral or a rage spiral knows you can "defeat" it sometimes with a massive amount of effort. Sometimes certain activities help conquer certain emotions faster via new emotions or something else. I find playing fast and loud metal music helps subside anger and certain books can sometimes beat a down cycle.

Batman: No choice. He is Batman.

 

[impressive]

I think emotions largely involuntary, but what actions we take in reaction to them wholly a matter of choice.

Smart horsie.

 

[Recidiva]

I have no choice about what I feel when it happens the first time.

What I do with it is my choice, which will affect what I feel the next time something similar happens.

 

[Tom Collins]

Yeah...what they said.

Hiys, Severus. *spanklickbite*

 

[Guest]

I can't choose who I love... I found this out the hard way and I think others have as well... we love who we love and sometimes we get smacked in the process. I know that I dislike intensely...(hate yes... one or two) but I try very hard to not do the unhappy emotions towards others it helps my karma in the long run

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Yeah...what they said.

Hiys, Severus. *spanklickbite*

Back at ya, Tom. Neat AV there.

Interesting replies. I had to get feedback because it is theory of emotions and psychology that I am formulating, called non-volitionalism. Wanted to see the response. It's a large part of why I have not blamed people for not loving me back. And I told them that, too, that I didn't blame them, since they couldn't make themselves love me.

 

[Tom Collins]

Back at ya, Tom. Neat AV there.

Thank you...you're right it's not someone's fault if they don't love you but it can be incredibly hard to not blame them, not matter that you know it's not a chioce.
I admire you for being able to do that.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Thank you...you're right it's not someone's fault if they don't love you but it can be incredibly hard to not blame them, not matter that you know it's not a chioce.
I admire you for being able to do that.

You're welcum. And thanks. I just decided that facing the truth about their not having a choice was less aggravation than getting mad at them for not loving me back. And it all turned out well anyway. I'm happy, and I hope that she is too.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Love and desire: no choice whatsoever. You get what you get and you'll deal with it Skippy.

Emotions: Mostly involuntary as others said. You can't choose to have it, but you can bury it with intense effort. Anyone who has fought valliantly against a dangerous mad-on or has some ritual to beat a depression spiral or a rage spiral knows you can "defeat" it sometimes with a massive amount of effort. Sometimes certain activities help conquer certain emotions faster via new emotions or something else. I find playing fast and loud metal music helps subside anger and certain books can sometimes beat a down cycle.

Batman: No choice. He is Batman.

I tried alcohol for a while. Bad choice of a bad mood killer. Didn't always work.

Now I just use alcohol for a buzz. Much better use for it.

Now, friendship, jokes, even silly TV sitcoms, and especially really hilarious things like Monty Python help.

And occasional target practice with a 9 mm can be nice too.

Violent video games too. But don't want to do that right before or after the target practice. Bad mix. Just like guns and whiskey.

Luckily, I am able to find healthy outlets for rage.

And writing helps. So do music, movies, and sex.

Believe it or not, listening to other people gripe about their problems is a nice distraction too. It gets me seeing that I am not alone and realizing that it's not just tough for me at times. And that it's not always all about me. Helpful reminders indeed.

And eating helps at times, I admit. Nothing like tearing into a nice steak.

And, yep, Batman is shit out of luck. He is doomed to be the avenger of good and enemy of evil.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

I think you can control emotion. I, at least, can shut it down and feel nothing. Imean zero, no love, no hate, no anger, no sorrow, nothing at all. I will concede that the ability to do so is cultivated and is a coping mechnism for some of my mental problems, but I can do it with an effort of will.

I can't make myself love, but I can convince myself I do and if the object encourages me I can come to love them. I can't make myself hate someone, but I can work myself up to disliking them, and then I only need a slight to get bent out of shape over.

The Stoics taught themselves to feel nothing and while it can be argued that what they taught themselves was really just to show no emotion, I believe they probably actually did achieve a state where they felt nothing. It is possible to do. It is not natural, nor is it something one would cultivate for the fun of it, so to speak. But as a coping mechanism, or as part of a religion of philosophy, I believe you can blunt them to the point that the practical effect is to not feel them.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I think you can control emotion. I, at least, can shut it down and feel nothing. Imean zero, no love, no hate, no anger, no sorrow, nothing at all. I will concede that the ability to do so is cultivated and is a coping mechnism for some of my mental problems, but I can do it with an effort of will.

I can't make myself love, but I can convince myself I do and if the object encourages me I can come to love them. I can't make myself hate someone, but I can work myself up to disliking them, and then I only need a slight to get bent out of shape over.

The Stoics taught themselves to feel nothing and while it can be argued that what they taught themselves was really just to show no emotion, I believe they probably actually did achieve a state where they felt nothing. It is possible to do. It is not natural, nor is it something one would cultivate for the fun of it, so to speak. But as a coping mechanism, or as part of a religion of philosophy, I believe you can blunt them to the point that the practical effect is to not feel them.

An intriguing ability and certainly a challenge to me as to where that all ties in.

 

[arienette]

Emotions - involuntary
I voted and all that nice jazz, too.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Emotions - involuntary
I voted and all that nice jazz, too.

Neat. Thanks.

 

[arienette]

Neat. Thanks.

Not a problem.
I'm bored, entertain me.

Please?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Not a problem.
I'm bored, entertain me.

Please?

I'm getting ready to drink some whiskey and water....might be entertaining...which should I drink more of, the whiskey or the water?

Just teasing you. But I am thirsty....and so is my girl.

 

[arienette]

I'm getting ready to drink some whiskey and water....might be entertaining...which should I drink more of, the whiskey or the water?

Just teasing you. But I am thirsty....and so is my girl.

Definitely drink more of the whiskey.
I would.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Definitely drink more of the whiskey.
I would.

LMAO...maybe I will....it IS Friday, after all.

 

[arienette]

LMAO...maybe I will....it IS Friday, after all.

Indeed it is.
I'm going out in a half hour and I'm too fucking bored to wait. Ahhh.
So yeah, I can't wait until the movie for the Da Vinci Code comes out, how about you?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Indeed it is.
I'm going out in a half hour and I'm too fucking bored to wait. Ahhh.
So yeah, I can't wait until the movie for the Da Vinci Code comes out, how about you?

Been watching the Core, but I know what you mean. Btw, done with the whisky for the night. Too smooth. Sneaks up on you in a way that Scotch doesn't. I have my new favorite- Canadian whisky.