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| Reasoning with Emotions |
Reasoning with Emotions
According to the dictionary, emotions are “feelings as opposed to reason; a strong feeling; a subjective reaction involving psychological and physical changes”. There is no reasoning involved in the generation of an emotion, so ‘reasoning with emotions’ may seem to be a contradiction of terms.
Emotions initiate rapid-response activities that have been pre-programmed in your brain. In a simple hunter-gatherer society, emotions would have provided stimulii to help your ancestors avoid dangers and seize opportunities that would enhance their chances of survival.
However, in the complex social settings in which we now find ourselves, an emotional response may not always be appropriate.
The process of reasoning with your emotions involves the following steps:
1. Recognize that a stimulus that has produced the emotions that you feel.
2. Recognize the subsequent actions that your emotions are trying to inspire.
3. Pause to assess the situation.
If someone yells at you, your emotional response might be to throw rocks and run. If your neighbours are attacking a wrongdoer, your emotional response might be to join in. If you find a bag of candy, your emotional response might be to eat it all. If you meet an attractive person, your emotional response might be to instigate mating behaviour. These are the primitive responses that you might expect to see in a chimpanzee exhibit at a zoo. Our emotional responses need to be moderated according to the norms and morals of society.
Emotions generated in the hindbrain
These emotions are triggered by the immediate urge for survival. There is little conscious control over these emotions. Just try holding your breath for two minutes.
The urges to breathe, satisfy thirst, satisfy hunger, and find shelter are emotions that drive us to take the actions that are required to stay alive.
Emotions generated in the midbrain complex
Emotions of this type are triggered by events in a social setting. These emotions are based on competitions with other humans for security and limited resources. Lust, love, greed, anger, hate, camaraderie, and the pleasure of winning are typical of emotions generated in the midbrain.
Emotions generated in the forebrain
Emotions of this type are triggered during intellectual participation in society.
Satisfaction at completing a task, intellectual pleasure at discovering a new connection, friendships based on common interests, the enjoyment of humour, and the enjoyment of art are typical of emotions generated in the forebrain.
According to the dictionary, emotions are “feelings as opposed to reason; a strong feeling; a subjective reaction involving psychological and physical changes”. There is no reasoning involved in the generation of an emotion, so ‘reasoning with emotions’ may seem to be a contradiction of terms.
Emotions initiate rapid-response activities that have been pre-programmed in your brain. In a simple hunter-gatherer society, emotions would have provided stimulii to help your ancestors avoid dangers and seize opportunities that would enhance their chances of survival.
However, in the complex social settings in which we now find ourselves, an emotional response may not always be appropriate.
The process of reasoning with your emotions involves the following steps:
1. Recognize that a stimulus that has produced the emotions that you feel.
2. Recognize the subsequent actions that your emotions are trying to inspire.
3. Pause to assess the situation.
If someone yells at you, your emotional response might be to throw rocks and run. If your neighbours are attacking a wrongdoer, your emotional response might be to join in. If you find a bag of candy, your emotional response might be to eat it all. If you meet an attractive person, your emotional response might be to instigate mating behaviour. These are the primitive responses that you might expect to see in a chimpanzee exhibit at a zoo. Our emotional responses need to be moderated according to the norms and morals of society.
Emotions generated in the hindbrain
These emotions are triggered by the immediate urge for survival. There is little conscious control over these emotions. Just try holding your breath for two minutes.
The urges to breathe, satisfy thirst, satisfy hunger, and find shelter are emotions that drive us to take the actions that are required to stay alive.
Emotions generated in the midbrain complex
Emotions of this type are triggered by events in a social setting. These emotions are based on competitions with other humans for security and limited resources. Lust, love, greed, anger, hate, camaraderie, and the pleasure of winning are typical of emotions generated in the midbrain.
Emotions generated in the forebrain
Emotions of this type are triggered during intellectual participation in society.
Satisfaction at completing a task, intellectual pleasure at discovering a new connection, friendships based on common interests, the enjoyment of humour, and the enjoyment of art are typical of emotions generated in the forebrain.
