Evolutionary Perspective on Emotions

An evolutionary approach defines what emotions are in terms of how they came to exist. Emotions are modes of functioning, shaped by natural selection, that coordinate physiological, cognitive, motivational, behavioural and subjective responses in patterns that increase the ability to meet adaptive challenges of situations that have recurred over evolutionary time. See also fight or flight and rest and digest.

A perspective that explains how emotions evolved to help living beings survive and reproduce amid environmental demands, making them a product of natural selection. Over time, the capacity for emotion became a standard quality because it increased survival and mating success. In social species, emotions specifically help coordinate social behaviors, foster cooperation, and attract mates. Emotions act as "superordinate programs"—meaning they simultaneously coordinate our physical, mental, and behavioral responses to handle critical situations instantly.

Reference:

Nesse, R. M., & Ellsworth, P. C. (2009). Evolution, emotions, and emotional disorders. American Psychologist, 64(2), 129-139. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/a0013503