On Self-Manifestation · Inner Chapter 17 v1.0: Coloring — A Structural Model of Emotion, Preference, and Decision Bias

What is emotion, if it is not merely a subjective feeling? This paper proposes a structural account in which emotion is understood as a parallel mechanism—termed Coloring—that operates on perceptual content (Imagery) and directly shapes preference, bias, and action. Instead of treating emotion as an auxiliary or reactive layer, the framework shows that emotion is a necessary structural component for selection under limited cognition. Coloring attaches to imagery and introduces differentiation in the form of like/dislike, closeness/distance, and approach/avoidance. These distinctions generate preference, from which stable dispositions emerge. The paper formalizes this process as a Coloring-Circuit, which runs in parallel with other perceptual and cognitive circuits, producing bias-flow that directly influences decision pathways. The model explains how emotion guides behavior in both humans and animals, accounts for developmental emergence of preference (e.g., learning disgust or attraction), and describes how repeated exposure leads to sedimentation of emotional patterns. It also addresses failure modes: without Coloring, systems cannot effectively select among competing options, even if they possess extensive knowledge. The central claim is: emotion is not an added layer upon cognition, but a structural mechanism that enables decision under constraint by biasing selection within the system. This provides a unified account linking affect, perception, and action, with implications for neuroscience (affective processing), cognitive science (decision-making and bias), and artificial intelligence (value alignment and action selection).