Prospects of the empirical research of emotions'' Dynamics

The article deals with the problem of experimental study of the dynamics of emotions. Its brief history and methodological difficulties of its development are presented. There is a decrease of the interest in the study of emotions in the last decades of the 20th century. The research shows limitations of the traditional view on the study of the dynamics of emotions, which requires the use of a universal stimulus material for all participants of the study and the subsequent discussion of the differences in its representation and attitude to it. The authors of the article raise up the question of the application of a stimulus material that would be consistent in form, and individually specific in content, and that would be able to provide a universal character of the dynamics of emotions. An experimental procedure for «triggering» emotion in the research situation was developed. Moreover the authors describe setting up of the specific conditions for the emergence of emotions in the subject, so that it can be confidently asserted that it took place. The results of the application of a new experimental technique that allows to change the intensity of emotions of joy and sadness are described, its effectiveness in ensuring the dynamics of emotions is demonstrated. In conclusion the authors show prospects of further study of the «triggering» of emotions of joy and sadness through the use of techniques in the experiment capable of ensuring the dynamics of these emotions without presenting any external (physical) stimulus.