Abstract

A popular approach to emotion regulation is that this is a second-order process which is different from emotion and which is driven by the goal of modifying it in some way. The separation between emotion and emotion regulation has been challenged by the fact that emotion regulates itself through different feedback loops. However, the relevance of these counter-examples is doubtful. Emotional feedback is different from standard instances of regulation in that it often involves no representation of a goal. I will employ a cybernetic approach to goal-directedness in order to show that goal representation is not necessary for regulation. Additionally, the view implies that regulation is a constitutive aspect of the goal-directedness of emotions themselves. Thus, it is not only the case that emotional feedback is a genuine type of regulation but it is also a constitutive aspect of emotion.