Primary vs Secondary Emotions q Primary Emotions What

Primary vs. Secondary Emotions q Primary Emotions (What is Felt First) Ø Ø Ø Primary emotions are a response to a situation They are unthinking, instinctive responses Seen in non-human animals, confirming an evolutionary basis Transient: They disappear as fast as they appear Don’t require cognitive processing q Secondary Emotions (What is Felt Next) Ø May be simple feelings or a mix as more emotions join the fray Ø Emotional reactions to your primary feelings – feelings about feelings Ø May be caused by the beliefs we have about experience certain emotions

Emotions likely evolved through natural selection to serve two primary functions: 1) Promoting the direct attainment of survival and reproductive goals 2) Attainment of social goals (e. g. , getting along and getting ahead) Basic emotions clearly serve both survival and social functions. Self-conscious emotions, on the other hand, seem to promote specifically social goals. Self-conscious emotions guide individual behavior by compelling us to do things that are socially valued and to avoid doing things that lead to social approbation.

Self-Conscious Emotions Make Us Socially Acceptable • GUILT as a motivator of social repair • SHAME as a motivator of social withdrawal • EMBARRASSMENT as a rectifier of awkward situations • PRIDE as and indicator of worth, high status, and acceptance