Teorie ingenue: L'esperienza emotiva di tristezza

Naive theories about emotional experiences elicited by the death of a significant other were studied by analyzing subjects' (N= 240; 24 yrs-old) answers to a set of open questions. A data-driven analysis of the protocols showed that Ss listed several emotions as immediate reactions (e.g. sadness, pain, depression) rather than as 'adequate' behaviors. Few Ss listed physiological and expressive responses (e.g. crying) in either case. Cognitive reactions (e.g. remembering the other) but not actual behaviors (e.g. comfort others involved in the loss) were frequently mentioned. The most frequent cognitive 'adequate' reaction was attempting to control one's emotions. Most Ss mentioned at least one cause for the elicitation of emotions (e.g. loss of a significant other). Most Ss expected conflict and uncertainty over the felt emotions (e.g. because felt emotions are ambiguous; of opposite nature; discrepant with respect to the situation). Finally, Ss listed reasons for sharing emotions with others (e.g. to be comforted). However, emotions are not always expected to be sincerely shared. The significance of the lost other, and the sex variable, influenced the frequency and type of many attributed features of the emotional experience.