SectionDDirections:Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.Imagineaworldinwhichtherewassuddenlynoemotion—aworldinwhichhumanbeingscouldfeelnoloveorhappi
SectionD
Directions:Readthepassagecarefully.Thenanswerthequestionsorcompletethestatementsinthefewestpossiblewords.
Imagineaworldinwhichtherewassuddenlynoemotion—aworldinwhichhumanbeingscouldfeelnoloveorhappiness,noterrororhate.Trytoimaginetheconsequencesofsuchatransformation.Peoplemightnotbeabletostayalive:knowingneitherjoynorpleasure,neitheranxietynorfear,theywouldbeaslikelytorepeatactsthathurtthemasactsthatwerebeneficial.Theycouldnotlearn:theycouldnotbenefitfromexperiencebecausethisemotionlessworldwouldlackrewardsandpunishments.Societywouldsoondisappear:peoplewouldbeaslikelytoharmoneanotherastoprovidehelpandsupport.Humanrelationshipswouldnotexist:inaworldwithoutfriendsorenemies,therecouldbenomarriage,affectionamongcompanions,orbondsamongmembersofgroups.Society’seconomicfunctionswouldbedestroyed:sinceearning$10millionwouldbenomorepleasantthanearning$10,therewouldbenomotivationtowork.Infact,therewouldbenomotivationofanykind.Foraswewillsee,motivationimpliesacapacitytoenjoycertainactivties.
Insuchaworld,thechancesthatthehumanspecieswouldsurvivearenexttozero,becauseemotionsarethebasicinstrumentofoursurvivalandadaptation.Emotionsstructuretheworldforusinimportantways.Asindividuals,wecategorizeobjectsonthebasisofouremotions.Trueweconsiderthelength,shape,size,ortexture,butanobject’sphysicalaspectsarelessimportantthanwhatithasdoneorcandotous—hurtus,surpriseus,angerusormakeusjoyful.Wealsousecategorizationscoloredbyemotionsinourfamilies,communities,andoverallsociety.Outofouremotionalexperienceswithobjectsandeventscomesasocialfeelingofagreementthatcertainthingsandactionsare“good”andothersare“bad”,andweapplythesecategoriestoeveryaspectofoursociallife—fromwhatfoodsweeatandwhatclothesweweartohowwekeeppromisesandwhichpeopleourgroupwillaccept.Infact,societyexploitsouremotionalreactionsandattitudes,suchasloyalty,morality,pride,shame,guilt,fearandgreed,inordertomaintainitself.Itgiveshighrewardstoindividualswhenperformingimportanttasks.
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