Silvan Tomkins was one of the most influential theorists on emotion and emotional expression. Over a period of 40 - some years - until his death in 1991 - he developed a set of original, important ideas about the nature of affect and its relationship to cognition and personality. Tomkins dealt with fundamental questions in a fresh and provocative way, establishing affect as a separate, biological system, and providing compelling data on discrete affect expressions. Several years before his death, Professor Tomkins agreed to bring his papers (unpublished and published) together into Exploring Affect for Cambridge Studies in Emotion and Social Interaction. He worked with Paul Ekman and Klaus Scherer to develop a structure for the book that would synthesize his theory of emotion. Unfortunately, he died before he was able to complete the process. Virginia Demos, who knew Professor Tomkins well, took on the enormous task of compiling the papers and writing connective material for the book. This volume of Tomkins selected writings on affect brings together his works of four decades and makes them available at a more receptive time in the field. It is a treasure trove of provocative, insightful and relevant ideas.

A comprehensive introduction to the work of Silvan Tomkins - a leading theorist of human emotion and motivation.
Reviews
"...an edited volume of Tomkins's selected writings is of such great value. Though the task was no doubt arduous, E. Virginia Demos has selected and edited a perspicuous account of Tomkins's nearly 50 years of scholarship." Ed de St. Aubin, Contemporary Psychology



Book Information
ISBN 9780521448321
Author Silvan S. Tomkins
Format Paperback
Page Count 540
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 705g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 153mm * 26mm