Topic > The Human Condition: Emotion and Its Impact

IndexIntroductionImpact on SocietyConclusionIntroductionAs psychologists continue to deepen their understanding of the brain, an increasing amount of information about emotions is being discovered. The previous belief that gut feelings about people's emotional states has been found to be more likely to be wrong than an analytical approach. Even with brain scans showing emotional responses, psychologists still don't agree on emotions, and the number and size of areas of the brain that correspond to certain emotions are different from person to person. New information shows that too much emotional intelligence is harmful, causing stress in overly empathetic people. These studies show that human emotions are still far from being fully understood, but as the years pass, they are becoming less of a mystery. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayMany people think that reading people's emotions is an instinct, and that thinking about how someone really feels will give a less accurate impression than instinct feeling. How we read emotions: Feeling Your Pain says recent research has found that thinking about someone's emotions will provide a more accurate idea than gut feelings. This new information contradicts current beliefs about emotional interpretation, researchers find this curious given that the idea that gut feelings are more accurate than thought interpretations is universal. Brain scans have shown that different emotions have different effects on the brain. Although tests show that it is possible to predict which emotion is shown in a brain scan, it is not yet proven that the results of a test can be used to identify the emotions of a different group of people. Emotionally intelligent people are more easily able to understand what others are feeling. Emotional intelligence has always been considered a positive trait, the more you have, the better. Today it seems that an excess of emotional intelligence is harmful and causes excessive stress in overly empathetic people. Impact on society Emotions are important, but when they are extreme they are dangerous. The development of an “us” versus “them” mentality in politics comes from the exploitation of emotions and the creation of a polarized system. Through the use of rhetoric and propaganda a political party or movement can make people believe that another ideological group is an enemy rather than just people with different opinions, a political group gains more support based on people's hatred and fear . Separation into groups with similar ways of thinking also provides a sense of belonging that comes from uniformity. If the political climate becomes too polarized, then uniformity can overwhelm individual autonomy and authoritarianism can take control in a party. Emotions hold more power over a person's actions than most seem to think. Without controlling their emotions people can begin to fall to extremes, both political and personal. People who don't control their emotions can also more easily fall into euphoria and believe anything someone says if it's accompanied by something emotionally impactful. Emotions can upset the correct vision of a scenario or an issue from a pragmatic and analytical point of view. Emotion allows many positive things to occur through things like humanitarian aid and charities. Unfortunately emotions also allow for manipulation and.