Interconnection between emotion and cognition: implications for human and environmnetal well-being

This dissertation explores the interconnection between emotion and cognition, a central theme in contemporary neuroscience and psychology. The overarching framework of the thesis weaves together state-of-the-art research with experimental studies conducted during three years of doctoral work, offering an integrated analysis that bridges theoretical and applied approaches. The first chapter provides a comprehensive theoretical discussion of the constructs of emotion and cognition. It concludes with a pioneering study that characterized the doctoral research, investigating the associations between fluid and crystallized intelligence, emotional recognition, and measures of psychological well-being. The findings highlight the complexity of interactions between cognitive abilities, emotional competencies, and their impact on individual well-being, offering new perspectives for the analysis of socio- emotional skills. The second chapter focuses on the critical role of emotional regulation as a foundation for psychological well-being. This section includes a literature review published by Bonvino et al. (2023), which examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional regulation in Italian children. The synthesized findings underscore the vital importance of emotions and regulation strategies during crises, contributing to a deeper understanding of psychological vulnerabilities and resources during developmental stages. The third chapter presents the central research study of this dissertation, which investigates the effect of regret anticipation on promoting pro-environmental behaviors. Through an innovative experimental design, the research demonstrates that the anticipatory activation of emotions such as regret can be an effective tool for fostering ecologically sustainable choices, with significant implications for behavioral change initiatives. In the concluding chapters, the thesis reflects on the broader implications of the findings and outlines future research directions, advocating for a paradigm shift in the understanding of the emotion-cognition relationship. Specifically, it proposes moving beyond the rationalist perspective of cogito, ergo sum to an integrated approach encapsulated by sentio et cogito, ergo sum. This paradigm shift emphasizes the centrality of emotions as an essential and complementary component of human thought, paving the way for new avenues in the research and practice of psychological and cognitive sciences for the promotion of individual and environmental well-being in an ecosystemic logic.