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Functions of Emotions

Though the text does go into some detail about the practical functions that emotions serve on page 336 in chapter 10, it is rather brief and perfunctory when addressing these practical functions. Though this issue is not particularly confusing, it is also not very well explained in the textbook, and so a website was found that provides more information on the subject. At the URL http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content= a713751220~frm=titlelink, the abstract of an in-depth research article can be found that details the wide array of literature documenting the evolutionary functions served by emotions, and that also notes the relative lack of information concerning emotions' developmental functions. This could possibly explain why there is not a great deal of depth in the textbook regarding these functions; the text is more concerned with developmental issues than with evolutionary phenomena, and the developmental functions of emotions have not been as thoroughly researched (informaworld.com 2010). This site provides more information than is given in the text, yet is still somewhat brief due to the lack of research on the subject.

The developmental functions of emotions are seen to be primarily related to social cognitive attainments throughout the periods of human life, enabling more efficient interactions and interpersonal decisions (informaworld.com 2010). As many major developmental milestones involve abilities to function in social groups, emotional access and development are seen to be essential in overall mental and psychological development (informaworld.com 2010).