The Network Model of Emotion

Bower (1981) proposed a network model of emotion.

He assumed that emotions are represented as nodes in a

semantic network. Through a process of spreading activation,

nodes activate other nodes that are similar in meaning.

If a person is in a positive mood, a positive emotion node is

activated, resulting in the activation of other nodes which

include positively valenced information. In contrast, if a person

is in a negative mood, nodes are activated that include

negatively valenced information.

© POSbase 2003Contributor

Activation of emotion nodes result in mood congruence

in memory and judgment (Forgas & Bower, 1987), or in

mood-state dependent memory.

The network model of emotion has been challenged by

work that supports the „mood as information“-view (see

Schwarz & Clore, 1983).

He assumed that emotions are represented as nodes in a

semantic network. Through a process of spreading activation,

nodes activate other nodes that are similar in meaning.

If a person is in a positive mood, a positive emotion node is

activated, resulting in the activation of other nodes which

include positively valenced information. In contrast, if a person

is in a negative mood, nodes are activated that include

negatively valenced information.

Mood-

unliked

unhappy

suicide

inkompetent

depressive

Mood+

kompetent

liked

happy

satisfied

is a good boss

Bower (1981) proposed a network model of emotion.

Mood+

kompetent

liked

happy

satisfied

is a good boss

Mood-

unliked

unhappy

suicide

inkompetent

depressive

The Network Model of Emotion

© POSbase 2003

Activation of emotion nodes result in

mood congruence in memory and

judgment (Forgas & Bower, 1987), or

in mood-state dependent memory.

The network model of emotion has

been challenged by work that supports

the „mood as information“-view (see

Schwarz & Clore, 1983).

The Network Model of Emotion

© POSbase 2003