Emotions are a simplified heuristic for navigating a complex world.

Running every detail through analytical process would prevent us from making timely reactions, and would exhaust us. Emotions take distilled core values, compare a few key points to them, and quickly produce a response. Maybe not perfect, but generally better than a much delayed response. Needs therefore generate emotional responses. Emotions arise from the limbic system.rR1



  1. David Rock, Your Brain at Work: Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long, 1st ed (New York: Harper Business, 2009). (See notes.)