What are emotions, and why do we have them?
No absolutely
agreed on definition for emotions exists. Many dictionaries refer to
"feelings" or "moods" when defining the word; this further begs the
question of what they are. Scientists who attempt to study emotional
phenomena characterize them in terms of their particular interest, and
thus, definitions change depending on whether the scientist is studying
the biological, psychological, or social basis of emotions. This, of
course, further complicates the understanding of emotions.
Historically,
the mind was thought to be separate from the body and part of the soul.
In fact, psyche is the Greek root for "soul". With the advent of a more
scientific understanding of the brain and mind, some scientists attempt
to liken the mind to software and the brain to hardware. In actuality,
however, it is not quite so simple. A simultaneous change in brain
activity accompanies every change in thought, feeling, perception, or
action. Today, scientists increasingly appreciate the fact that no sharp
demarcation exists between the brain and the mind.
Despite the
fact that mind and brain are essentially unified, drawing a boundary
between the two allows for practical differences between them to be
conceptualized in everyday lives. For example, such a boundary permits
distinction between acts and motives. Distinguishing acts from motives
helps with negotiation through everyday social interactions. For example,
consider the feelings generated when standing in line and having your
toes stepped on. With the immediate sensation of pain comes the feelings
of shock, surprise, and probably anger. The feelings experienced are
immediately followed by an assessment of the person's motives or state of
mind. Action on that assessment is guided by feelings. Emotions therefore
serve to engage the body to act in some manner. The manner on which an
action is taken usually carries some survival value to a given
individual.
Thus, lack of
emotions could be likened to the lack of physical pain sensation. There
would be numbness to the environment and thus problems in interaction
with it appropriately. Without the ability to feel anger, joy, sorrow,
fear, or love, humans would be incapable of generating priorities to
action. Emotions help to prioritize - to decide when to act and when not
to act. Without such abilities, choosing between arrays of decisions that
are confronted on a daily basis would be unfeasible.
