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(1987) Phenomenological psychology, Dordrecht, Springer.
During the many years of my investigations of animal behavior I have become more and more convinced that we ought to understand the observable vital phenomena such as actions and expressions. Behavior can never be reduced to physiological processes and explained as a result of the integration of reflexes. The reflex is a reduced action, stabilized by the constant signification, for example the dangerous-ness, of the situation in which it occurs. The characteristics and the entire signification of behavior become intelligible in the light of their relation to the essence of the animal being in general and the definite mode of existence of the species.1 The proper content or signification of the concept of behavior presupposes that being an animal is absolutely different from being a crystal, a drop of water, or a plant.2 These ideas and views resulting from concrete experiments and observations have made me appreciate the value of the phenomenological approach and apply the phenomenological method to the problems of psychology.3 Animals and men are observable subjects4 because we understand behavior as a system of intentional acts.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-3589-1_6
Full citation:
Buytendijk, F.J.J. (1987)., The phenomenological approach to the problem of feelings and emotions, in J. Kockelmans (ed.), Phenomenological psychology, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 119-132.
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