Final answer:
John Locke believed complex emotions are formed through the accumulation of experiences that begin with simple sensations and reflective thoughts. He argued that the mind is a blank slate at birth and that knowledge and emotions are not innate but developed through life experiences and reflections upon them.
Step-by-step explanation:
How John Locke Viewed the Development of Complex Emotions
John Locke, the influential Enlightenment philosopher, argued that our minds are a tabula rasa, or blank slate, at birth and that all knowledge, including complex emotions, comes from experience. This development occurs through a process beginning with simple sensations, which are received through the senses, and reflection upon these sensations. The accumulation of these experiences subsequently leads to the formation of complex ideas and emotions. Locke theorized that we arrived upon complex emotions by extending these simple ideas derived from sensory experiences and reflections on them. Thus, emotions are not innate but constructed from our cumulative life experiences and reflections.
By analogy, contemporary theories such as the constructivist theory of emotions also suggest that emotions are based on predictions and constructed experiences. This intersects with Locke's ideas on acquiring complex emotions through experiences. His perspectives helped lay the groundwork for further discussions and development in the field of psychology and philosophy of mind.
Maintaining a critical perspective when dealing with strong emotions, as suggested by metacognition, can help manage them and ensure that judgments are not clouded by these emotional responses. This is consistent with Locke's view of learning through reflection, as conscious reflection on one's emotions can provide a more profound understanding of their origins and influence on thought.