Functions of Emotions

Overview

• Emotions play a crucial role in human life with three main functions:
  • Intrapersonal: Within individual.
  • Interpersonal: Between individuals.
  • Social and Cultural: Across societies.

Learning Objectives

• Appreciate the importance of emotions.
• Understand functions and meanings of emotions in three areas.
• Provide examples of emotions in intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social-cultural areas.

Introduction

• Emotions are integral to human life and experience.
• Both positive and negative emotions color life experiences.
• Emotions help us navigate social landscapes.
• Emotions are rapid information-processing systems.
• Three sections to explore functions:
  • Intrapersonal
  • Interpersonal
  • Social and Cultural

Intrapersonal Functions of Emotion

Rapid Action

• Emotions help act quickly with minimal conscious awareness (Tooby & Cosmides).
• Evolutionarily, emotions aid quick decision-making critical for survival.
• Disgust helps avoid harmful food.

Prepare for Action

• Emotions prepare the body for immediate action.
• Coordinate perception, attention, memory, physiological reactions, and behaviors.
• Fear can shut down non-critical bodily functions.

Influence Thoughts

• Emotions influence thoughts and memories, acting as "neural glue."
• Affect attitudes, values, beliefs.
• Intense emotions can hinder critical thinking.

Motivate Future Behaviors

• Positive emotions drive striving for achievements.
• Negative emotions drive avoidance of harmful experiences.

Interpersonal Functions of Emotion

Social Signals

• Emotions are expressed verbally and nonverbally.
• Serve as signals influencing social interactions.

Facilitate Behaviors

• Facial expressions convey psychological states and intentions.
• Fear leads to approach; anger leads to avoidance.

Signal Relationships

• Emotional expressions inform about interpersonal relationships.
• Predictive of marital satisfaction and issues.

Social and Cultural Functions of Emotion

Cultural Coordination

• Emotions help maintain social order by providing meaning systems.
• Culture involves complex social roles and norms.

Cultural Transmission

• Emotions are transmitted culturally through worldviews.
• Worldviews guide desirable emotions and social norms.

Cultural Display Rules

• Learned rules manage emotional expressions based on context.
• Help maintain social harmony and order.

Conclusion

• Emotions are fundamental to personal well-being, social interactions, and cultural cohesion.
• Cultural norms help regulate emotions, ensuring societal functionality and survival.

Discussion Questions

• Why do emotions activate/deactivate specific systems?
• Why are happy/sad thoughts difficult to recall when experiencing opposite emotions?

Vocabulary

• Cultural display rules: Management of emotional expressions by cultural norms.
• Interpersonal: Interaction between two or more individuals.
• Intrapersonal: Occurrences within oneself.
• Social and Cultural: Effects of emotions on societies and cultures.

References

• Baumeister et al. (2007): Feedback, anticipation, and reflection in emotional behavior.
• Darwin (1872): Expression of emotion in man and animals.
• Matsumoto & Juang (2013): Culture and psychology.

This lecture highlights the significant roles emotions play within individuals, in inter-personal relationships, and across social and cultural contexts, emphasizing their importance in psychology and human behavior.