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.
People differ in how they think about their feelings.
Some people pay attention to their feelings all the time, whereas others may place little value on them. Our lab is currently investigating what types of beliefs people hold about their feelings and how these beliefs may alter the way in which feelings function. In many situations, people feel the need to regulate and control their feelings. One issue that the lab examines is whether or not people are effective in doing so, and under what circumstances. For instance, sometimes people are more influenced by their feelings the more motivated they are to control them.