Abstract: A method for ascertaining an emotional goal includes receiving, via an emotionally responsive computerized system having a user interface communicatively coupled to a networked user device including a processor device, user-input concerning a purpose of a user's interaction with a software interface. It can include registering input indicating a target person to whom the purpose of the user's interaction pertains and prompting the user to provide a root motivator comprising a root emotion or a root reason for the interaction. Some variations include generating a user-perceptible output and a set of user interface elements dependent on the root motivator along with obtaining the user's specific emotional goal with respect to the target person on the basis of user-inputs in response to a presentation of a sequence of user interface elements, to provide the user, via the software interface, a recommendation regarding a fulfillment of the specific emotional goal.