Theoretical considerations for the articulation of emotion and argumentation : a proposal for emotional regulation in deliberation

Abstract

In this article emotion and its role in argumentation are presented to propose the use of emotional regulation during argumentative encounters, because of the way maladaptive emotions could, in some cases, difficult problem-solving during practical argumentation. To do so, I begin by defining emotions, focusing in primary emotions, considering some of the conceptual aspects of emotion and appraisal. Latter defining argumentation, concentrating in practical argumentation and deliberative dialogues, seen as an argumentative process that looks to decision-making and that could be affected by attention, memory and the adequate use of language; to then state the usual considerations of emotion during argumentation and the function of cognitive frames in emotion, reasoning and argumentation. Highlighting that emotion and argumentation are affected by cognitive processes, or reasoning, and that emotions can influence the argumentative encounter, this article resumes and explains the subject of emotional regulation as a process that could contribute to an adaptive expression of emotion and to a modification of maladaptive emotions, utilizing metacognitive strategies like attentional deployment, cognitive change and response modulation. This proposal centers around the possible contribution of the use these strategies for emotional regulation during deliberative processes, to allow more adaptive emotional responses, leading to better argumentative encounters, more efficient decision – making processes and improvement of the attention, memory and language used in deliberative dialogues.