Emotions Argumentative Analysis

The main distinction between culture and evolutionary bases of emotions is the origin and function of these emotions. The evolutionary perspective would say, “Generally prepare us for action that serves our best interests” (1/25). To get a stronger sense of what this means, it helps to look at the very beginning, natural selection. And natural selection would say that emotions increase the likelihood to keep our offspring and us safe. Basically, emotions goal in this perspective would keep us alive and flourishing. This is a little different to the culture perspective, which would say, “Emotions--Prepare us for action that serves our best interests within a culture, and also serves culture’s interests” (1/25). Although they both are rather

The evolutionary perspective considers emotions to be a biological process connected to the brain, autonomic nervous system, and hormones. The culture perspective states that emotions come from, “Language, beliefs, social roles, concepts, and the performance of emotions” (1/25). From what is presented here, evolution views emotions as a response inside of the body whereas the cultural perspective perceives emotions as a manifestation of our values.

Humans have evolved a variety of emotion; each designed to help with particular adaptive. Our ancestors were confronted with a large quantity of these problems including, avoiding predators, gathering nutrients, enticing mates, caring for progenies, and finding shelters. Because all of these problems needed to be solved, humans’ brains developed specific mechanisms that helped us to deal with these problems. According to the evolutionary perspective, Emotions are adaptive programs designed through repeated encounters that are intended to either direct other physiological programs or to directly solve adaptive problems faced by a species over time. Happiness and sadness have yet to have distinct