Evolutionary Perspectives on Emotion

By:Kayla Brown

Michael Naphtal

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Evolution, Emotions, and Emotional Disorders

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBfTA7sK1jI

What are Emotions?What are Emotions? “Emotions are modes of functioning,

shaped by natural selection, that coordinate physiological, cognitive, motivational, behavioral, and subjective responses in patterns that increase the ability to meet adaptive challenges of situations that have recurred over evolutionary time” (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009, p.129).

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Categorizing EmotionsCategorizing Emotions While all theorists

believe that emotions are an adaptive response the number of how many emotions actually exists has never been categorized because it has never been agreed upon. Although all theorists do mention fear and anger in their basic list of emotions.

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFqzYoKkCc

2:50-7:07

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Functions of EmotionsFunctions of Emotions Fear motivates escape

Anger motivates attack

Frustration and irritation help us with problem solving, by letting us know when certain strategies are not working

Embarrassment and Anxiety can help condition our behaviors in social situations

Trust and guilt help promote more social cooperation

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Functions of Emotions Functions of Emotions Cont.Cont.

There are also moments when some emotions seem unnecessary or simply wasteful, we can react in fear when there is nothing wrong and become angry over simple misunderstandings.

There are greater benefits than costs to have increased emotional sensitivity in certain situations.

Ex. Having an emotional response of panic or anxiety towards a possibly threatening situation.

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Functions of Emotions Functions of Emotions Cont.Cont.

Human behavior is mostly goal oriented and emotions help facilitate this behavior

For people goal based behavior has two main categories, behaviors that help the individual survive, and the behaviors that help the individual with social situations

Ex. Opportunities illicit excitement causing us to pursue it

Ex. Progress on a goal causes optimism which allows for continued effort for the worthwhile end result

Ex. When a goal is unattainable we get depressed and move away from continuing a futile task

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Social EmotionsSocial Emotions Aside from emotions with

basic survival importance such as Fear, Joy, and Curiosity we also have many emotions meant for dealing with social situations.

Considering that in human evolution working in a group was more important for survival it only makes sense that we would develop behaviors to help reinforce group cooperation and reciprocity.

Adapted from Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009, p.135

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Social Emotions Cont.Social Emotions Cont. If cooperation is so important for humans why do we act against

the group?

Some theories show that in certain situations there are big advantages that an individual can have from defecting from a group and having the capacity for it helps to reap the overall rewards.

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Social Emotions Cont.Social Emotions Cont. In other moments people just seem to act randomly or irrationally

for no apparent reason. What could possibly be the benefit of irrational behavior?

Game theory looks at social interactions as if we are players in a game. If all of your behaviors were consistent and predictable then other players could take advantage of you. If you act irrationally then you are no longer predictable, and to show others that you can act irrationally it will probably require actually doing so from time to time.

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Article Critique “However, unlike software programs, emotions

were not designed for specific functions” (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009, p.132). Comparison to computer “Different emotions have sometimes been defined

by their more specific functions” (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009, p.132).

“No precise description of emotions and their subtypes can be accurate” (Nesse & Ellsworth, 2009, p.132). While their may be a large amount of emotions in

categorizing them, we gain some knowledge about them.

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Test Questions

1-Negative emotions serve their function by encouraging an organism to take advantage of an environmental opportunity. (T/F)

2-False alarms are an adaptive outcome of emotions. (T/F)

3-Social emotions encourage group cooperation. (T/F)

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

Test Questions4-All theorists have their own list of basic emotions, all of these lists include…..

A. joy, sorrow

B. Shame, guilt

C. Contempt, acceptance

D. Fear, anger

5-Frustration helps problem solving by…..A. Letting us know when a strategy is not working

B. Motivating us to be more engaged

C. Keeping us engaged in a task

D. Helping us to see new opportunities

6-Emotions are…..A. a physiological response

B. an instinctual response

C. a coordinating response

D. a social response

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.

DiscussionEmotions help guide goals and problem solving behaviors.

Are emotions exclusively meant to be a learning tool or as something more?

Why don’t emotions seem to have any specific functions? We know that they can help with certain situations but no one emotion has a clear individual function.

What should future studies focus on when dealing with emotions, the structure of emotions, the function, the mechanisms that regulate the expression/intensity of emotions, or the categorization of emotions?

Why do we experience emotions at moments when it is useless, unhelpful, or irrational?

Nesse, R. M. & Ellsworth, P.C. (2009) Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139.