Hedonic Tone Theory (HTT) of Victor S. Johnston

Basic Ideas:

Regardless of how each of us defines emotions or desires, one trait we all accept is the scalar quality of them. We recognize that some are stronger than others, and we even compare things with this belief. "For an automobile, I prefer a convertible to a sedan. I like apples and oranges, but I like apples more in the afternoon and oranges more in the morning. I am very fond of my dog, but his fleas leave me cold." We have an endless array of such comparisons which tie a degree of want, desire, aversion, or feeling to the entities compared. No doubt, it is this degree which decides our actions.

Victor Johnston encapsulates this universal belief into a structured and integrated theory - Hedonic Tone Theory (HTT) - which acknowledges the scalar quality we all accept:

"The hedonic dimension of feelings can be envisaged as a scale ranging from an extremely pleasant or positive pole, to an extremely unpleasant or negative pole. All feelings, in addition to their unique qualitative natures - like disgust, pain, pride, happiness, or sadness - are accompanied by shifts along this common hedonic dimension."

"Positive and negative feelings could evolve by natural selection ... to enhance or decrease the survival of our genes ... (humans) make decisions based upon feelings, and theses in turn specify what is, or was, in their best biological interest."

Theory Roots:

The general history of this cannot be drawn backward to a single person or event. All of us throughout recorded history have acknowledged how "our hearts guide us". Even the idea of feelings being on a single scale can be traced to Abraham Maslow's "hierarchy of wants". Similarly, Robert Plutchik has equated emotions to positive and negative "fields" with varying intensities. What makes Johnston's work stand out is his integration of this idea with current research in evolutionary psychology and neurobiology.

Importance:

Focusing attention on a common trait behind feelings, its basis in brain architecture, and its affect on decision-making opens the door for (and begs for) a final integrated theory of mind encompassing psychology and biology. Of greatest importance is HTT providing the essential mechanism behind all descision-making, emotions, and the architecture and biology of the brain - a central point from which all other theoretical components can grow. HTT is a central point of cohesion between disparate fields across all human endeavors.

Further Reading:

Why We Feel: The Science of Human Emotions.

Victor S. Johnston - READING: Perseus Books, 1999. ISBN 0-7382-0109-X

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