Evolved Emotions: An Interdisciplinary and Functional Analysis

(Hardback)

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In Evolved Emotions, Glenn Weisfeld analyzes a comprehensive list of universal emotions, detailing their elicitors, affects, behavioral tendencies, expressions, visceral changes, neural mediations, development over the life span, and presence in other species. This comparative, evolutionary perspective inspires respect for the ancient utility of our emotions and the specific, enduring adaptive value of each one. This book offers novel insights into neglected emotional behaviors such as contact comfort, pain, feeding, disgust, fatigue, sleep, play, amorousness, sex, grief, parental behavior, anger, pride and shame, and humor. This systematic study of universal human emotions offers a framework for understanding all voluntary human behavior, including developmental, personality, gender, and pathological differences, explaining how each normal emotion serves to enhance the biological fitness of the individual.

Reviews

Emotions make us do what we have to do. It is entirely logical, therefore, to put them in an evolutionary perspective to see where they come from and what purpose they serve. In doing so, Glenn Weisfeld offers a fresh, enlightening look at something we experience every day. -- Frans de Waal, Emory University and author of Mamas Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves
Too often behavioral science is based on cognition, as if we consciously strive to increase our utility functions. In this wise work, Glenn Weisfeld shows the importance of physiologically-based emotions as motivators, describing the evolutionary commonalities of emotional behavior in humans and animals. A great and readable antidote for those drugged by the idea that we are essentially rational actors. -- Allan Mazur, Syracuse University
This is an outstandingly insightful book about the most important part of ourselves: feelings. They guide our perceptions, thoughts and behaviors, and lead us through life. Glenn Weisfeld takes a very scholarly and up-to-date approach in discussing how evolution shaped this part of the human condition. He describes the adaptive values of a rich array of emotions regulated by a complex network of physiological, biochemical, and neurobiological mechanisms and, by stating that pathologies do occur, avoids the trap of adaptationism. A balanced piece of work by an internationally highly esteemed human ethologist. -- Wulf Schiefenhvel, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

Author Bio

Glenn Weisfeld is professor of psychology at Wayne State University