desire |
Working Definition:
Desire is a lack a person feels as the consequence of a belief that the object in question is attractive or beneficial and consciously tries to fulfill. Or, a conflict that a person feels as the consequence of a belief that it is unattractive or harmful and tries consciously to be rid of. [In the later case, what is lacking is the absence of the object in question.]
Disciplinary Definitions:
Pyschology: "1. a conscious longing or want. 2. a conscious wish to be rid of an unpleasant or aversive stimulus or situation." Chaplin, J. P. (1985). Dictionary of Psychology. New York: Dell.
Philosophy: Anthony Kenny has an extended account of desire in Action, Emotion, and Will (70ff.)
Narratology: desire is a lack of something or someone. Propp, V. (1971). Morphology of the Folktale. Austin, Texas: U of Texas P.
Comments:
Desire can be considered an emotion. Richard J. Davidson has a neural model of the left and right anterior (prefrontal and anterior temporal) regions in approach and withdrawal-related emotions. This might work quite nicely with the narrative conception of desire/conflict pairing. Narratives structured by these motives may trigger correlative empathetic feelings in the audience. "Is There Emotion-Specific Physiology" in The Nature of Emotion, (241)
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last revised:
June 13, 2007
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