17. Toward Modeling Emotion Elicitation Processes Using Fuzzy Appraisal Approach

This paper investigates using a fuzzy appraisal approach to model the dynamics for the emotion generation process of individuals. The proposed computational model uses guidelines from OCC emotion theory to formulate a system of fuzzy inferential rules that is capable of predicting the elicitation of different emotions as well as transitioning between different emotional states as a result of an occurred event, an action of self or other individuals, or a reaction to an emotion triggering object. In the proposed model, several appraisal variables such as event’s desirability and expectedness, action’s praise-worthiness and object’s degree of emotional appealing were considered and thoroughly analyzed using different techniques. The output of the system is the set of anticipated elicited emotions along with their intensities. Results showed that the proposed computational model is an effective and easy to implement framework that poses an acceptable approximation for the naturally sophisticated dynamics for elicitation and variation of emotional constructs in humans.