Emotions in the Theory of Cultural-Historical Subjectivity of González Rey

Abstract

In the theoretical thinking of Gonzalez Rey, the acknowledge of the generating character of emotions and their infinite unfolding associated with symbolic productions, which are not of the order of meaning, has represented an essential step for a theory of cultural-historical subjectivity capable of transcending the limitations associated with the treatment of this subject in the modern period. Emotions must be understood in their generating capacity, not as effects, but as processes that maintain a recursive relationship with other psychic processes, as opposed to understanding the psychic coming from other elements, which are at the base, until today, of all atomistic psychology of empirical orientation. In this work, we review different investigations carried out in the field of emotions by Fernando Gonzalez-Rey, which will allow us to understand better the role of emotions in the production of subjective senses that always anticipate the actions of the subject, actions that can have very different forms of expression. Therefore, those subjective senses associated with the subject can be corroded, distorted, or even modified in the process of production of new subjective senses that is developing in the course of the subject’s action.