why do we have emotions?

1
why do we have emotions?

• so-called negative emotions like anger, panic
  anxiety prepare the body-mind to deal
  with specific short term threats by narrowing
  down our thought-action choices

so-called positive emotions like joy,
contentment curiosity broaden the
thought-action repertoire by promoting bonding,
play, exploration integrative, creative
thinking to build resources for future survival
adrenaline dopamine
Ashby, F. G., A. M. Isen, et al. A
neuropsychological theory of positive affect
and its influence on cognition. Psychol Rev
1999 106 529-50.
2
... improving problem solving
positive emotions have been shown to help
people think problem solve with more speed,
creativity, flexibility, curiosity, efficiency
and organization

• Isen A M, Johnson M M et al. The influence of
  positive affect on the unusualness of word
  associations. J Pers Soc Psychol 1985 48
  1413-26
• Isen A M, Daubman K A et al. Positive affect
  facilitates creative problem solving. J
  Pers Soc Psychol 1987 52 1122-31
• Isen A M, Rosenzweig, A S et al. The influence
  of positive affect on clinical problem solving.
  Med Decis Making 1991 11 221-7