Written by: Simon Sangat - 22019, Grade XII
Posted on: 29 July, 2021
A life without emotions would be boring and empty. Our experiences of love, anger, joy, fear, and other emotions energize and add color to our lives. Emotions are feelings that contain a pattern of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral responses to events. Emotion theorist Richard Lazarus, believed that motivation and emotions are always linked, because we only react emotionally when our motives and goals are gratified, threatened, or frustrated.
Emotions also have significant adaptive functions. Some emotions, such as fear, are part of an emergency arousal system that increases our chances of survival, for example when we are fighting or fleeing, when we are exposed to a threat or danger. But positive emotions such as interest, joy, excitement, contentment and love also have important adaptive functions. They help us build intimate relationships and expand our thinking and behavior so that we can explore, consider new ideas, try new ways to achieve goals, play games and enjoy what we have. Emotions are an important form of social communication. By providing clues about our internal states and intentions, emotions influence how other people behave towards us. For example, consider the effects of a crying baby on the mother, who generally responds with caring behaviors that are of obvious value to the baby's survival. Expressions of sadness and distress also evoke concern, empathy, and helpful behavior in others. Positive emotional expressions also pay off. A smiling baby is likely to increase parental feelings of affection and, increasing the likelihood that the child's biological and emotional needs will be met. Happy adults also tend to attract others and have supportive and more peaceful relationships. Emotions are triggered by external or internal stimuli. Emotional responses are the result of our assessment of these stimuli, which gives the situation a certain meaning.
Emotions are triggered by external or internal stimuli. Emotional responses result from our appraisals of these stimuli, which give the situation it’s perceived meaning and significance.
Our bodies respond physiologically to our appraisals. We may become physically aroused, as when we feel fear, joy, or anger; or we may experience decreased arousal, as when we feel contentment or depression. Emotions include behavior tendencies. Some are expressive behaviors such as smiling with joy or crying with sadness.
