Evolutionary Valence Labeling Theory: The Origin, Function, Individual Differences, and Formula of Subjective Experience

Subjective experience is a labeling system shaped by natural selection, assigning valence labels (good/bad, approach/avoid) to survival-relevant stimuli. Neonates' innate reactions to sweetness (approach) and bitterness (avoidance) provide direct evidence for this innate valence labeling. At the neural level, subjective experience and coordinated firing of neuronal ensembles in specific pathways are the same process, differing only in perspective. The theory distinguishes psychological valence (phenomenological description) from its biological mechanistic explanation. Acquired supplementary labeling allows innate labels to be modulated through learning. Individual differences arise from interactions among genes, development, and experience. EVLT transforms the "hard problem" of consciousness into an empirically tractable functional problem.

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Abstract

Abstract: The nature of subjective experience is a central puzzle in consciousness research. This paper proposes the "Evolutionary Valence Labeling Theory" (EVLT), arguing that subjective experience is a labeling system shaped by natural selection, whose function is to assign valence labels (good/bad, approach/avoid) to stimuli relevant to survival and reproduction. Neonates' innate reactions to sweetness (approach) and bitterness (avoidance) provide direct evidence for innate valence labeling. At the neural level, subjective experience and the coordinated firing of neuronal ensembles in specific neural pathways are the same process, differing only in first-person versus third-person perspectives. This paper distinguishes EVLT from the psychological concept of "valence": valence is a phenomenological description at the psychological level, whereas EVLT provides the underlying biological mechanistic explanation. We also introduce the concept of "acquired supplementary labeling," indicating that innate labels can be modulated through learning. Individual differences arise from interactions among genes, development, and experience.This paper also introduces a formula for calculating experiential valence. EVLT transforms the "hard problem" into an empirically tractable functional problem. Keywords: evolutionary valence labeling; acquired supplementary labeling; subjective experience; consciousness; valence; natural selection; qualia