By Josh Clark
Emotions may signal a change in our environment, a change within us
or a change in both. These signals are generally fleeting in comparison
to other states of mind. As a result, emotions are distinct from moods,
which can last for hours, days or even weeks. They're also distinct from
personalities, the lifelong set of traits that comprise our individual,
predictable reactions to situations [source: SCAS].
It would appear that the function of an emotion is to get our attention
and demand a response. Psychologists have debated whether that action
is an involuntary physiological reaction or the result of judgment we've
made after evaluating our current situation.
But why do we experience anger from a smack on the nose or shame from stealing?
Here,
the debate ends and scientific consensus emerges. Emotions are
motivators. From an evolutionary standpoint, emotions are the agents of
change and reaction. Disgust is a quick, nasty response that we
experience when we encounter something that might make us sick. Anger
quickly transitions us from a placid state to one where we're ready to
fight; fear prompts us to flee from dangerous situations. Sadness, on
the other hand, can generate the resolve needed to change the direction
of one's life. Emotions can also motivate us to continue what we're
doing; the experience of joy is a pleasurable one, and we're motivated
to carry out the behavior that led to the emotion.
Coupled with our ability to empathize with others, emotions also serve to maintain social bonds.
We wear emotions outwardly -- the basic emotions are all readily
apparent on a person's face -- so they serve as social signals. These
allow us to interact with others' needs in mind rather than our own,
which is the basis of society.
There are plenty of examples of how
emotions help further society. Imagine raising offspring without the
emotional attachment associated with one's own children. The feeling of
loneliness leads to the emotion of sadness, which prompts us to seek out
the company of others. Higher, self-conscious emotions like shame
prevent us from repeating behavior that is harmful to others, like
stealing.
It would seem, then, that society was able to emerge as a
result of our ability to experience emotions based on our interactions
with others. Or did it happen the other way around? Interestingly, the
social constructionist theory of emotions says that society begins to
dictate the emotional response to an individual, rather than vice versa.
As a person grows older, emotions develop from knee-jerk physiological
reactions to predictable, conditioned responses [source: Ratner].
In this sense, the emotions of the individual are hijacked by the
expectations of the society the individual lives in, making that person
more suited to live peaceably in that society.
