For, feelings can influence your thoughts, decisions, performance, and actions. Scientists and philosophers have long debated whether people should strive to engage in rational and logical thought or if they should rely on their feelings. Some assume that decisions that are informed by one's feelings are somehow less wise than those informed solely by the facts. Others believe that people should be emotionally aware and pay attention to their feelings, for feelings can provide valuable information. The feelings, behavior, and information processing lab investigates when, why, and how feelings influence people's daily lives.
Feelings often influence people when they seem relevant to and inform the task at hand.
If you are feeling happy at the time, you may experience those feelings as indicating that you feel favorably towards him. Thus, your feelings are providing you with information about Joe. How feelings inform people depends on the circumstances. Our lab investigates how feelings influence a variety of tasks, including tasks that are relevant to creativity, problem solving ability, judgment, perception, self understanding, and attitudes. We also look at how people's goals and motivation might alter the informational value of their feelings.