By Elle Ryan, Resident in Counseling
Why do we have feelings? In this article, we’ll explore the purpose of emotion, drawing from the works of Paul Rasmussen, PhD, an expert on the adaptation of emotions through the lens of evolutionary psychology and Adlerian therapy. To learn more about these topics, check out our references and read his book, The Quest to Feel Good(https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Feel-Good-Paul-Rasmussen/dp/0415965314).
Humans are capable of a wide spectrum of emotions, some pleasant and many more that are unpleasant. Emotions like sadness, fear, and anger may often be unwelcome guests to our inner world; however, like all emotions, they serve an important purpose beyond their discomfort. Emotions are essential for us to experience and when we listen to our feelings and allow them to guide us, they motivate us to take the action needed to resolve whatever we’re feeling. In this way, emotions are integral to our survival and existence.
Emotions can be understood to serve three primary functions(Rasmussen, no date):
● Personal Feedback ○ Emotions provide invaluable feedback on our current situation and interactions.○ Our feelings can be used to measure our quality of life based on whether our present reality meets, exceeds, or falls short of our expectations.● Communication○ Emotion was our first means of impacting and engaging with our environment○ As children, feelings are the primary method of communicating our wants and needs to others. This is why babies cry to alert their caregivers. As adults, we learn more effective styles of communication for getting our needs met, such as clear, direct verbal requests.● Action Energy○ Emotions motivate us to take action in any given situation. Without a source of emotion, we don’t know what to do.○ Our feelings are the driving force behind our actions and behaviors. Without emotion, we are akin to robots. Emotions can further be categorized into two distinct types: those that validate and those that compel (Rasmussen, 2023).
Validating Emotions:
These emotions affirm our sense of fulfillment, worth and success. They include feelings such as happiness, joy, love and pride, signaling the attainment of our aspirations, goals and desires. Validation can be referred to as the “desired state,” which ideally takes up 20% of our emotional space.
Compelling Emotions:
In contrast, compelling emotions energize us to take action in response to perceived threats, challenges or unmet needs. These emotions include anger, anxiety, guilt, fear and boredom amongst many others to address obstacles and overcome adversities. Although often uncomfortable, compelling emotions drive us to confront and resolve issues that impede our well-being. Overall, they are the feelings we want to end, taking up the other 80% of our emotional space.
Let’s go through an example to show the purpose of emotion and how certain feelings compel us to take action and overcome obstacles in our lives. Take anger, for instance. Anger is the protest emotion. It tells us that something dangerous or unjust is happening to us or to our community. In response, this emotion gives us the energy and adrenaline necessary to take action to confront the threat, which could be anything from bodily harm to emotional crisis. Anger allows us to protect ourselves and others, whether it’s dodging a charging rhino or objecting to exploitative practices in the workplace. Getting angry in either of these scenarios is a normal, appropriate, and useful reaction. When channeled in a healthy way, your anger compels you to fight or flee from danger or it compels you to advocate for yourself and the rights of others.
In essence, emotions serve as reflections of our inner world. Its purpose is to provide feedback, communicate our emotional state, and validate or energize us to confront challenges in the environment. Embracing the purpose of our emotions can aid in our ability to navigate life’s difficulties with greater insight and authenticity.
References:
Rasmussen, P. R. (2023). In search of a feeling: The adaptive purpose of emotion. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gx5l5jp9jdl4x47j330ti/Emotions-and-their-goal-2023.docx?rlkey=undxsc3fiv3b34wzsd3wx69sr&dl=0
Rasmussen, P. R. (no date). Two types and three purposes of emotion. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x6bfpy6ljy0v0sifowzqg/Two-Types-and-Three-Purposes-of-Emotion-2.docx?rlkey=ac4y4c04xey2jvdgk6memnai6&dl=0
Rasmussen, P.R. (2010). The quest to feel good. Published by Routledge. https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Feel-Good-Paul-Rasmussen/dp/0415965314