Rethinking Human Emotions

In the debate on the nature of emotions, arguments that separate emotions as an internal and personal phenomenon to make them entirely biologically driven ignore the contribution of social, cultural, and physical environments in determining our feelings and emotions. For example, the norms of a culture explain how emotions are to be enacted and interpreted. Although in all cultures it varies, In some cultures, individuals are socialized to suppress their emotions-for example, anger or sadness whereas in others, most forms of emotional expression are more tolerated. This proves that emotions are biologically and socially influenced by the surrounding culture in which the individual lives.

Moreover, it’s basic to suggest that emotions can be divided into clear categories and neatly packaged as distinct, universal states such as “anger” or “happiness.”. Research in psychology and neuroscience suggests that emotions are much more complex and fluid than this approach would imply. For example, emotions such as sadness and fear might share some overlapping underlying neuroanatomy, making diagnostic boundaries challenging to cut clearly. Further, people frequently report experiencing multiple emotions simultaneously, challenging the discrete, definite conception of emotions. One may feel happy and sad when thinking over a bittersweet memory, such as leaving a familiar home for a new life. This complexity points to the need for more theories attempting to reduce emotions to a fixed set of types or reactions.

On the contrary, focusing only on the biological side of emotions ignores how much our thoughts influence how we feel. Cognitive appraisal theories are based on the idea that emotions result not directly from automatic biological responses to an event but from a person’s interpretation and evaluation. One might consider a neutral experience, such as receiving critical feedback at work, as threatening and feeling anxious or defensive. Instead, one might appraise this experience as an opportunity for growth and feel motivated or determined. In this example, emotions are occasioned by biological responses and mental frameworks through which we understand the world and make sense of what happens to us. By leaving out the cognitive aspect, we only see emotions as biological reactions, without understanding how people think about and react to situations.

In conclusion, the view of emotions as internal processes must also recognize the key role that social interactions play in emotional development and regulation. Emotions are not experienced in isolation but are deeply connected to relationships with others. From early childhood, humans rely on their parents/caregivers and social environments to learn how to regulate and express their emotions. Emotional intelligence demonstrates that understanding, managing, and responding to emotions in social situations is crucial for mental health and healthy relationships. People often reflect and imitate the emotional states of those around them, a phenomenon known as emotional contagion. This social side of emotion shows that emotions are not just internal feelings, but deeply influenced by social interactions. To truly understand them, we need to consider both their biological basis and the social contexts in which they arise.