Cognitive-Model-Based Interpretation of Emotions in a Multi-modal Dialog System

The paper presents the cognitive-model-based approach of abductive interpretation of emotions that it is used in the multi-modal dialog system SmartKom. The approach is based on the OCC model of emotions, that explains emotions by matches or mismatches of the attitudes of an agent with the state of affairs in the relevant situation. It is explained how eliciting conditions, i.e. abstract schemata for the explanation of emotions, can be instantiated with general or abstract concepts for attitudes and actions, and further enhanced with conditions and operators for generating reactions, which allow for abductive inference of explanations of emotional states and determination of reactions. During this process concepts that are initially abstract are made concrete. Emotions may work as a self-contained dialog move. They show a complex relation to explicit communication. Additionally we present our approach of analyzing indicators of emotions and user state, that come from different sources.