Charles Darwin Explaining Emotion Through Evolution

Charles Darwin: Explaining Emotion through Evolution Skyla Pappas Front Range Community College As most of us know, Charles Darwin is known as the father of the theory of evolution. Darwin not only advanced our understanding of nature in the fields of science and biology, he also made a huge contribution to the field of psychology in his book entitled â€Å"The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals†. In it he argued that organisms develop the ability to express emotion as an adaptation to enhance their skills at surviving (Hockenbury Hockenbury, 2014). In essence what Darwin was trying to explain is that emotions play a crucial role in our survival. Emotions allow us to feel love and compassion with the end result being reproduction. The emotion of fear urges us to avoid threats and danger. It is also the demonstration of these emotions that assist us in communicating our needs or intentions. As Darwin put it â€Å"...emotional displays serve the important function of informing other organisms about an individual’s internal state† (Hockenbu ry Hockenbury, 2014). For an example a rattlesnake in a state of anxiety will rattle its tail as a warning to tell others to retreat or he will strike. Charles Darwin’s evolutionary stand point on the expression of emotions is a thorough and multifaceted study. Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was born the fifth of six children in aShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Psychology And Psychology3461 Words   |  14 PagesI see open fields for far more important researches. Psychology will be based on a new foundation, that of the necessary acquirement of each mental power and capacity by gradation. 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