According to Laura Fielding the purpose of an emotion is to:
- Motivate an action that seems useful for survival.
- Make you aware of a need that you have
- Communicate to your group or tribe what you need
Courtney Armstrong describes the needs and action tendencies embedded within different emotions. The need behind fear is safety and the action tendency is to run away (to fulfil the need of safety). The need for protection and maintenance of boundaries is embedded in anger and the action tendency is to stop someone who to make them move out of the way. Sadness urges us to withdraw, rest or take stock to fulfil the need for healing, respite or care. Disgust urges us to keep something toxic away which serves the need of preserving well-being. Shame urges us to hide or cover up and the need embedded within it is for social approval. Panic and/or grief urges us to reconnect with a loved one in order to fulfil the need for care, connection and belonging. Panic and grief operate under the same brain network, according to Jaak Panksepp because panic results from the fear of being separated from the tribe
An emotion is asking us to do something. In responding to emotions, it is helpful, says Armstrong, to explore where the emotion is felt in the body and then inquiring into what the emotion is asking us to do. In order words, what do I need right now?