1 Psychology and human development1.9 Emotion
1.9.2 Functions of emotion
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Written by Resident Doctor Committee · Published
New in the 2027 syllabus
The College added this topic for exams from January 2027.
Preparing action
Emotions organise attention, bodily responses and readiness to act around events that matter to a person's goals and needs. This readiness to act is called an action tendency.
Function | Example | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
Protection | Fear draws attention to possible danger | Too much sensitivity to threat can restrict activity |
Motivation | Interest encourages exploring and learning | An immediate reward can compete with longer-term goals |
Social communication | Facial and vocal signals show distress or a wish to approach | Their meaning depends on context and culture |
Relationship regulation | Guilt can prompt repair after harm | Persistent, inappropriate guilt can be disabling |
Key points
An action tendency is a readiness to respond, not an act that must follow. A person can feel angry without behaving aggressively.
Emotional signals change how other people behave. They can bring about support, avoidance or negotiation.
Functional explanations describe the possible benefits of an emotional response. They do not prove that every episode is helpful, or that each is caused by one evolutionary purpose.