score:4
You might want to look at The 5 Aggregates, namely the aggregate(s) of Perception, Mental Formations and Consciousness.
Especially the forth aggregate of mental formations relates to what you are describing, since it contains volition (cetana). See also SN 12.38: Cetana Sutta.
The Abhidhamma goes into further detail on the topic of Citta & Cetasikas. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi has written an execellent summary called "The Abhidhammattha Sangaha - A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma".
Upvote:2
When you try to give meaning to what you experience lead to Conceptual proliferation this can lead to latent tendencies which creates suffering.
“Bhikshu, as regards the source from which proliferation of conception and perception assails a person: if one were to find nothing there to delight in, nothing there to welcome, nothing to cling to—this is the end of
- the latent tendency of lust,
- the latent tendency of aversion,
- the latent tendency of views,
- the latent tendency of doubt,
- the latent tendency of conceit,
- the latent tendency of desire for existence, and
- the latent tendency of ignorance.
This is the ending of the taking up of the rod and the sword, quarrels, disputes, mayhem [strife], slandering and lying —here these evil unwholesome states cease without remainder.”
…
Avuso, dependent on the [eye | ear | nose | tongue | body | mind] and [form | sound | smell | taste | touch | mind-object], [eye | ear | nose | tongue | body | mind]-consciousness arises.
The meeting of the three is contact.
With contact as condition, there is feeling.
What one feels, one perceives.
What one perceives, one thinks about.
What one thinks about, one mentally proliferates.
From that as source, proliferation of conception and perception assails a person regarding past, future and present [forms | sounds | smells | tastes | touch | mind-objects] cognizable through the [eye | ear | nose | tongue | body | mind].