The Function of Emotions.

27 Mar

Emotions are universal, biologically hard-wired, and ultimately unavoidable. But why do we even have emotions in the first place? Sure, happiness is okay—but what about all those pesky unpleasant ones like sadness, guilt, shame, anxiety etc (you know the ones)…

For many of us in Kogarah and the St George area, these emotions can feel confusing, overwhelming, or even “wrong”—something to be pushed away or gotten rid of as quickly as possible.

Well, it turns out emotions serve three important functions.

Function 1: Motivate Behaviour

Emotions prepare us for action—quickly, automatically, and without deliberation. We see our toddler running towards the road: we respond. We don’t need to think about it, we just do it.

Emotions provide a drive, an urge, an impetus to adapt to a situation. Have an upcoming exam? Anxiety may very well drive you to study. Somebody picking on your friend? Anger may urge you to stand up and say something. Have a newborn child? Love will give you a natural, inbuilt impetus to nurture and care for your infant.

Function 2: Communicate to (and Influence) Others

We communicate verbally and non-verbally (facial expressions, gestures, posture etc). Emotions influence both.

If we’re sad, we might cry—and this might influence people to offer support. If we’re angry, we might raise our voice and frown—this might influence people to listen up. If we’re feeling guilty, we might lower our head and avoid eye contact—this may be exactly the sort of behaviour that inspires people to forgive.

Function 3: Communicate Information to Ourselves

Emotions provide information—they communicate to us. They’re a signal that something is going on.

Feeling sad? Perhaps there is a loss.
Feeling guilty? Perhaps you’ve done something wrong.
Afraid? Perhaps there is a threat.

Attending to our emotions is self-validating and can allow us to respond effectively.

If you find your emotions feel overwhelming, confusing, or hard to manage, working with a psychologist can help you better understand and respond to them in a healthy way. (Book online here)

When Emotions Feel “Out of Whack”

“But what if my emotions are out of whack?” I hear you say. “My emotions are too strong or completely at odds with the situation.”

This is actually very common. Emotions can become heightened, stuck, or difficult to regulate—especially under stress or when patterns of avoidance or over-control develop over time.

Next Steps

If you’re looking for a psychologist in Kogarah or the St George area, consider booking an appointment with one of our experienced clinical psychologists.