Webb Therapy Uncategorized Emotions: Function and Motivation

Emotions: Function and Motivation

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Categories:

Joy or happiness can motivate us to join in, take part, flourish, share, be a part of, repeat these activities.

Fear can motivate us to get away, hide, flee, run, keep ourselves or others safe. It protects us.

Sadness can motivate us to withdraw, ruminate, cry, heal, express hurt, seek comfort and bond with others.

Anger can motivate us to attack, defend or stand up for ourselves, identify boundary violation, identify there is a threat to our self or our loved ones or something we value.

Guilt can motivate us to repair what we have done and informs us that we have violated our morals or values.

Shame can motivate us to hide away, to keep things secret, to remember our fallibility and humility, to keep us “right sized”.

Disgust can motivate us to withdraw, keep a distance, get clean or clean our environment to ensure we stay healthy.

Compassion, empathy, or sympathy can motivate us to offer comfort, be with others, relate to one another and form strong bonds.

Confusion (Cognitive with physical sensations) can motivate us to get curious, learn, discover, grow.

Affection (behavioural with physical sensations) can motivate us to give love, get close to specific people who were feel safe with, and want to spend more time with.

Related Post

Fact. Truth. Belief. They are related but distinct. Here’s a clear explanation showing how they differ and interact:Fact. Truth. Belief. They are related but distinct. Here’s a clear explanation showing how they differ and interact:

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1. Fact

Definition:
A fact is something that is objectively real and can be proven to be true. It exists independently of what anyone thinks or believes.

Example:

  • It is a fact that Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere.

Key Points:

  • Facts don’t change based on opinion.
  • They can be verified with evidence (e.g. scientific data, observation, reliable records).
  • Facts are the foundation upon which truth claims and beliefs can be tested.

2. Truth

Definition:
Truth is a quality of a statement or belief that accurately reflects reality or fact.

Example:

  • “Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere” is a true statement because it corresponds with the fact.

Key Points:

  • Truth depends on alignment with facts.
  • Truth is often expressed in language or claims (“That’s true”, “That’s not true”).
  • Something can be true even if no one believes it (e.g. the Earth orbited the Sun even when most people thought otherwise).

3. Belief

Definition:
A belief is something a person thinks or accepts as true, whether or not it actually is.

Example:

  • Someone might believe that kangaroos can be kept as pets in all Australian states — but that belief isn’t necessarily true or factual.

Key Points:

  • Beliefs are subjective — they vary between individuals and cultures.
  • A belief can be true or false, depending on whether it aligns with facts.
  • People often act based on their beliefs, regardless of whether they are accurate.

How They Interact

  • A belief can be true or false:
    → If your belief aligns with fact, it’s true.
    → If not, it’s false — even if sincerely held.
  • Truth depends on fact:
    → A statement is true if it correctly describes a fact.
  • Facts stand alone:
    → They are not changed by belief or opinion.
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The ‘Triune Brain’ theory by Neuroscientist Paul MacLean — an evolutionary perspectiveThe ‘Triune Brain’ theory by Neuroscientist Paul MacLean — an evolutionary perspective

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The Concept of the "Triune Brain"

In the 1960s, American neuroscientist Paul MacLean formulated the ‘Triune Brain’ model, which is based on the division of the human brain into three distinct regions. MacLean’s model suggests the human brain is organized into a hierarchy, which itself is based on an evolutionary view of brain development. The three regions are as follows:

  1. Reptilian or Primal Brain (Basal Ganglia)
  2. Paleomammalian or Emotional Brain (Limbic System)
  3. Neomammalian or Rational Brain (Neocortex)

At the most basic level, the brainstem (Primal Brain) helps us identify familiar and unfamiliar things. Familiar things are usually seen as safe and preferable, while unfamiliar things are treated with suspicion until we have assessed them and the context in which they appear. For this reason, designers, advertisers, and anyone else involved in selling products tend to use familiarity as a means of evoking pleasant emotions.

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When our intelligent and necessary emotion – ANGER – becomes unhealthy and damagingWhen our intelligent and necessary emotion – ANGER – becomes unhealthy and damaging

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The function of anger is to protect vulnerability and neutralize threat.

The threat humans cognitively perceive is almost always to the ego i.e., how we want to think of ourselves and have others think of us. Anger neutralizes ego-threat by devaluing, demeaning, or undermining the “power” of the person perceived to be threatening. Humans get angry when they don’t get what they want, when they’re disrespected, or when they perceive something is unjust/unfair. Anger, the emotion, is a chemical messenger. It communicates to us, to others, and motivates us to act, speak, do something. Healthy responses to anger include being assertive, feeling empowered, protecting ourselves and love ones from ACTUAL threat, setting boundaries with others, and making social change for justice (for example). It becomes unhealthy when we become passive-aggressive, violent, vengeful, spiteful, aggressive, resentful, sarcastic, “moody”, rude etc.

Receive the message and respond from a wise, calm place after the intensity of the emotion has past. Sometimes we have to act in the moment. Our ancestors may have required this for fight/flight survival. These days, we can generally PAUSE and calm the self before responding from a mindful and compassionate heart and mind. Remember: Hurt people, hurt people.

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