Terminology and Definitions

Names v Concepts

The scientific approach to inquiry relies on concepts. However, concepts can only be effectively defined if the field where they apply is well-understood. In psychology, that is rarely the case.
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The desirable grounded one-to-one relationship between concept and reality is usually absent. Psychologists simply choose words, often words in everyday usage, and assign them special definitions. Using these words-become-concepts in research is then rather difficult. The technical task in finding solid ground is called "operationalizing" the concept. That means finding things in the world that have some plausible relationship to the idea inherent in the word-concept. Those are then regarded as "indicators" of the concept.

The approach taken here is to get clarity about entities in our field of interest and then give them names that accord with their function and make sense. That then allows clear communication, further investigation, and refinement of formulations.

When it is decided that an entity is sufficiently understood, then its name can be converted into a concept. Its definition will be the function that was named. Scientists then have a veridical match between a concept and its reality, as best currently understood.

THEE Note

A concept is located in the Inquiry Domain: PH2L2. An idea is located in the Experience Domain: PH4L4. A name (or term) is located in the Communication Domain: PH5L5. Is it coincidental that the Domain and Level numbers are identical in each case? Probably.

Experience & its Synonyms

I have chosen the name Experience to designate the 4th Root Level: RH-L4. It is the name given to inner psychological states used as a reference gauge within endeavours.

This fits with the evolutionary conception that the capacity for personal endeavours within a social setting has been the basis for the competitive success of human beings. In other words: I hold that the emergence of endeavours was associated with each person developing an inner guide that appraised their own efforts and allowed them to take up a position in regard to endeavours of others.

When we speak of experience, it is often used to refer to one of its primary levels. For example: sensation-L1 is an experience cf. the experience of warmth; image-L2 is an experience cf. an experience of a looming light, and so on. That is why I am comfortable to label the Primary Hierarchy as Levels of Experience.

The term 'feelings' could be used as a synonym for experience. But it seems more suitable for odd-numbered levels: sensations-L1, emotions-L3, intuitions-L5 and imagination-L7. It seems odd to label an image-L2, an idea-L4 or an identification-L6 as a 'feeling'.

In many contexts where «a self» is implicitly or explicitly considered, feelings appear to be restricted to emotions e.g. reference to a feeling of horror or a feeling of apathy While no one would talk about intuitional feelings or sensational feelings, people do refer to a felt sense (meaning an intuition) or a feeling a sensation (e.g. feeling the roughness of a surface).

Neuroscience Terminology

Neuroscientists do not study the full spectrum of experiences, but they do study emotion and have created a field of affective neuroscience. However, there is much disagreement about key terms like feeling, affect and emotion. Sometimes they speak of emotional feelings or affective experiences. They commonly create a mind-body split by referring to feeling as mental, and emotion as biological. One review Kleinginna, P. R. Jr., & Kleinginna, A. M. (1981). A categorized list of emotion definitions with suggestions for a consensual definition. Motivation and Emotion, 5, 345–79. identified 100 definitions of emotion, which were categorized in 10 classes.

Consciousness

Consciousness means being conscious of experiences. Levels here are about moving from a coma through sleep states and on to full alertness. Its synonym, awareness, makes it clear that one is conscious of something, or having an experience and knowing that to be the case.

Consciousness and experience are not synonymous because it is perfectly possible to have experiences without being conscious of them. Such experiences can often be recalled or activated with reminders. Subsequent behaviours and experiences can also provide very strong evidence that the supposedly unnoticed event or unconscious wish actually must exist.

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• Return to studying experience
• Continue to the fluidity of experience.

Originally posted: 6-Mar-2016.