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	Dr. Gasper's Home Page Psychology at Penn State Social Psychology at Penn State Other useful links Back to top	The Feelings, Behavior, and Information Processing Lab Have you ever wondered how and why feelings affect motivation and behavior? For, feelings can influence your thoughts, decisions, performance, and actions. Scientists and philosophers have long debated whether people should strive to engage in rational and logical thought or if they should rely on their feelings.  Some assume that decisions that are informed by one's feelings are somehow less wise than those informed solely by the facts.  Others believe that people should be emotionally aware and pay attention to their feelings, for feelings can provide valuable information. The feelings, behavior, and information processing lab investigates when, why, and how feelings influence people's daily lives. Three questions that we are currently addressing are: When are feelings influential? How might differences in people's beliefs and personality alter the way in which feelings function? Can people limit the influence of their feelings?  When are feelings influential? Feelings often influence people when they seem relevant to and inform the task at hand.  For instance, suppose you are asked whether or not you like Joe? 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. How might differences in people's beliefs and personality alter the way in which feelings function? 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. Can people limit the influence of their feelings?  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.
		Portions of the work conducted by the lab and described in these web pages were supported by NSF (award # 0348048) to Karen Gasper.