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Emotions can play an important role in how you think and behave. The emotions you feel each day can compel you to take action and influence the decisions you make about your life, both large and small.
Emotions can be short-lived, such as a flash of annoyance at aco-worker, or long-lasting, such as enduring sadness over the loss of a relationship. But why exactly do we experience emotions? What role do they serve?
What Human Emotion Are You? Take the Quiz
Emotions are a critical component of our daily lives and can often define the human experience. Take this free quiz to help you determine which emotion drives the way you experience the world and express your feelings.
Where Do Emotions Come From?
The Three Components of Emotion
In order to truly understand emotions, it is important to understand the three critical components of an emotion. Each element can play a role in the function and purpose of your emotional responses.
Emotions Can Motivate You to ActBrand New Images / Getty ImagesWhen faced with a nerve-wracking exam, you might feel a lot of anxiety about whether you will perform well and how the test will impact your final grade. Because of theseemotional responses, you might be more likely to study.Since you experienced a particular emotion, you had themotivationto take action and do something positive to improve your chances of getting a good grade.You also tend to take certain actions in order to experiencepositive emotionsand minimize the probability of feeling negative emotions. For example, you might seek out social activities or hobbies that provide you with a sense ofhappiness, contentment, and excitement. On the other hand, you would probably avoid situations that might potentially lead to boredom,sadness, oranxiety.Emotions increase the likelihood that you will take an action. When you areangry, you are likely to confront the source of your irritation. When you experience fear, you are more likely to flee the threat. When you feel love, you might seek out a partner.5 Surprising Ways to Get Motivated
Emotions Can Motivate You to Act
Brand New Images / Getty Images
When faced with a nerve-wracking exam, you might feel a lot of anxiety about whether you will perform well and how the test will impact your final grade. Because of theseemotional responses, you might be more likely to study.
Since you experienced a particular emotion, you had themotivationto take action and do something positive to improve your chances of getting a good grade.
You also tend to take certain actions in order to experiencepositive emotionsand minimize the probability of feeling negative emotions. For example, you might seek out social activities or hobbies that provide you with a sense ofhappiness, contentment, and excitement. On the other hand, you would probably avoid situations that might potentially lead to boredom,sadness, oranxiety.
Emotions increase the likelihood that you will take an action. When you areangry, you are likely to confront the source of your irritation. When you experience fear, you are more likely to flee the threat. When you feel love, you might seek out a partner.
5 Surprising Ways to Get Motivated
Emotions Help You Avoid Danger
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NaturalistCharles Darwinwas one of the earliest researchers to scientifically study emotions. He believed that emotions are adaptations that allow both humans and animals to survive and reproduce.
He suggested that emotional displays could also play an important role in safety and survival. If you encountered a hissing or spitting animal, it would clearly indicate that the creature was angry and defensive, leading to you back off and avoid possible danger.
Emotions can also prepare the body to take action. The amygdala, in particular, is responsible for triggering emotional responses that prepare your body to cope with things like fear and anger.
Sometimes this fear can trigger the body’sfight-or-flight response, which leads to a number of physiological responses that prepare the body to either stay and face the danger or flee to safety.
6 Basic Emotions and Their Effect on Human Behavior
Emotions Can Help You Make Decisions
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Your emotions have a major influence on the decisions you make, from what you decide to have for breakfast to which candidates you choose to vote for in political elections.
Researchers have also found that people with certain types of brain damage affecting their ability to experience emotions also have a decreased ability to make good decisions.
Research has found that experiencing fear increases perceptions of risk, feeling disgusted makes people more likely to discard their belongings, and feeling joy or anger causes people to leap into action.
5 Reasons Why We Make Bad Decisions
Emotions Help Others Understand You Betterfranckreporter / Getty ImagesWhen you interact with other people, it is important to give clues to help them understand how you are feeling. These cues might involve emotional expression throughbody language, such as various facial expressions connected with the particular emotions you are experiencing.In other cases, it might involve directly stating how you feel. When you tell friends or family members that you are feeling happy, sad, excited, or frightened, you are giving them important information that they can then use to take action.Research suggests that people experience positive emotions 2.5 times more frequently than they do negative emotions.
Emotions Help Others Understand You Better
franckreporter / Getty Images
When you interact with other people, it is important to give clues to help them understand how you are feeling. These cues might involve emotional expression throughbody language, such as various facial expressions connected with the particular emotions you are experiencing.
In other cases, it might involve directly stating how you feel. When you tell friends or family members that you are feeling happy, sad, excited, or frightened, you are giving them important information that they can then use to take action.
Research suggests that people experience positive emotions 2.5 times more frequently than they do negative emotions.
Emotions Allow You to Understand OthersGeber86 / Getty ImagesJust as your own emotions provide valuable information to others, theemotional expressionsof those around you also give a wealth of social information.Social communicationis an important part of your daily life and relationships, and being able to interpret and react to the emotions of others is essential.It allows you to respond appropriately and build deeper, more meaningful relationships with your friends, family, and loved ones. It also allows you to communicate effectively in a variety of social situations, from dealing with an irate customer to managing a hot-headed employee.Understanding the emotional displays of others gives us clear information about how we might need to respond in a particular situation.
Emotions Allow You to Understand Others
Geber86 / Getty Images
Just as your own emotions provide valuable information to others, theemotional expressionsof those around you also give a wealth of social information.Social communicationis an important part of your daily life and relationships, and being able to interpret and react to the emotions of others is essential.
It allows you to respond appropriately and build deeper, more meaningful relationships with your friends, family, and loved ones. It also allows you to communicate effectively in a variety of social situations, from dealing with an irate customer to managing a hot-headed employee.
Understanding the emotional displays of others gives us clear information about how we might need to respond in a particular situation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhich part of the brain processes emotions?The emotional processing network is the group of brain regions and structures responsible for processing emotions. Parts of the brain involved in this process include the amygdala, the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, and the cingulate cortex.Why are emotions an important part of decision-making?Emotions can help a decision-maker determine which aspects of a decision are the most relevant to their specific situation. They may also help people make faster decisions.What is the appraisal theory of emotion?This theory suggests that emotions step from the cognitive evaluations that people make about specific events. In other words, it implies that people must think about a situation before having an emotional response.The 6 Major Theories of EmotionA Word From VerywellAs you have learned, our emotions serve a wide variety of purposes. Emotions can be fleeting, persistent, powerful, complex, and even life-changing. They canmotivate usto act in particular ways and give us the tools and resources we need to interact meaningfully in our social worlds.Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use One
Frequently Asked Questions
Which part of the brain processes emotions?
The emotional processing network is the group of brain regions and structures responsible for processing emotions. Parts of the brain involved in this process include the amygdala, the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, and the cingulate cortex.
Why are emotions an important part of decision-making?
Emotions can help a decision-maker determine which aspects of a decision are the most relevant to their specific situation. They may also help people make faster decisions.
What is the appraisal theory of emotion?
This theory suggests that emotions step from the cognitive evaluations that people make about specific events. In other words, it implies that people must think about a situation before having an emotional response.
The 6 Major Theories of Emotion
A Word From Verywell
As you have learned, our emotions serve a wide variety of purposes. Emotions can be fleeting, persistent, powerful, complex, and even life-changing. They canmotivate usto act in particular ways and give us the tools and resources we need to interact meaningfully in our social worlds.
Emotion Wheel: What It Is and How to Use One
5 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L, Carrive P.Fear and the defense cascade: clinical implications and management.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(4):263-287. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000065Shaver TK, Ozga JE, Zhu B, Anderson KG, Martens KM, Vonder Haar C.Long-term deficits in risky decision-making after traumatic brain injury on a rat analog of the Iowa gambling task.Brain Research. 2019;1704:103-113. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.004Lerner JS, Li Y, Valdesolo P, Kassam KS.Emotion and decision making.Annu Rev Psychol. 2015;66:799-823. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043Hwang H, Matsumoto D.Functions of emotions. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba Textbook Series: Psychology.DEF Publishers; 2021.Raschle NM, Tshomba E, Menks WM, Fehlbaum LV, Stadler C.Emotions and the brain – or how to master “the force.”Front Young Minds. 2016;4. doi:10.3389/frym.2016.00016Additional ReadingDamasio AR.Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.Putnam; 1994.Darwin C.The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals(3rd edition). Appleton; 1872.Goleman D.Emotional Intelligence.Bantam Books; 1995.Salmond CH, Menon DK, Chatfield DA, Pickard JD, Sahakian BJ.Deficits in decision-making in head injury survivors.J Neurotrauma. 2005;22(6):613-622. doi:10.1089/neu.2005.22.613
5 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L, Carrive P.Fear and the defense cascade: clinical implications and management.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(4):263-287. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000065Shaver TK, Ozga JE, Zhu B, Anderson KG, Martens KM, Vonder Haar C.Long-term deficits in risky decision-making after traumatic brain injury on a rat analog of the Iowa gambling task.Brain Research. 2019;1704:103-113. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.004Lerner JS, Li Y, Valdesolo P, Kassam KS.Emotion and decision making.Annu Rev Psychol. 2015;66:799-823. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043Hwang H, Matsumoto D.Functions of emotions. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba Textbook Series: Psychology.DEF Publishers; 2021.Raschle NM, Tshomba E, Menks WM, Fehlbaum LV, Stadler C.Emotions and the brain – or how to master “the force.”Front Young Minds. 2016;4. doi:10.3389/frym.2016.00016Additional ReadingDamasio AR.Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.Putnam; 1994.Darwin C.The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals(3rd edition). Appleton; 1872.Goleman D.Emotional Intelligence.Bantam Books; 1995.Salmond CH, Menon DK, Chatfield DA, Pickard JD, Sahakian BJ.Deficits in decision-making in head injury survivors.J Neurotrauma. 2005;22(6):613-622. doi:10.1089/neu.2005.22.613
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L, Carrive P.Fear and the defense cascade: clinical implications and management.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(4):263-287. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000065Shaver TK, Ozga JE, Zhu B, Anderson KG, Martens KM, Vonder Haar C.Long-term deficits in risky decision-making after traumatic brain injury on a rat analog of the Iowa gambling task.Brain Research. 2019;1704:103-113. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.004Lerner JS, Li Y, Valdesolo P, Kassam KS.Emotion and decision making.Annu Rev Psychol. 2015;66:799-823. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043Hwang H, Matsumoto D.Functions of emotions. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba Textbook Series: Psychology.DEF Publishers; 2021.Raschle NM, Tshomba E, Menks WM, Fehlbaum LV, Stadler C.Emotions and the brain – or how to master “the force.”Front Young Minds. 2016;4. doi:10.3389/frym.2016.00016
Kozlowska K, Walker P, McLean L, Carrive P.Fear and the defense cascade: clinical implications and management.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2015;23(4):263-287. doi:10.1097/HRP.0000000000000065
Shaver TK, Ozga JE, Zhu B, Anderson KG, Martens KM, Vonder Haar C.Long-term deficits in risky decision-making after traumatic brain injury on a rat analog of the Iowa gambling task.Brain Research. 2019;1704:103-113. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.004
Lerner JS, Li Y, Valdesolo P, Kassam KS.Emotion and decision making.Annu Rev Psychol. 2015;66:799-823. doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115043
Hwang H, Matsumoto D.Functions of emotions. In: Biswas-Diener R, Diener E, eds.Noba Textbook Series: Psychology.DEF Publishers; 2021.
Raschle NM, Tshomba E, Menks WM, Fehlbaum LV, Stadler C.Emotions and the brain – or how to master “the force.”Front Young Minds. 2016;4. doi:10.3389/frym.2016.00016
Damasio AR.Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.Putnam; 1994.Darwin C.The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals(3rd edition). Appleton; 1872.Goleman D.Emotional Intelligence.Bantam Books; 1995.Salmond CH, Menon DK, Chatfield DA, Pickard JD, Sahakian BJ.Deficits in decision-making in head injury survivors.J Neurotrauma. 2005;22(6):613-622. doi:10.1089/neu.2005.22.613
Damasio AR.Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain.Putnam; 1994.
Darwin C.The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals(3rd edition). Appleton; 1872.
Goleman D.Emotional Intelligence.Bantam Books; 1995.
Salmond CH, Menon DK, Chatfield DA, Pickard JD, Sahakian BJ.Deficits in decision-making in head injury survivors.J Neurotrauma. 2005;22(6):613-622. doi:10.1089/neu.2005.22.613
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