#844 - Dr Laith Al-Shawaf - Why Do Humans Actually Have Emotions?
Modern Wisdom
Anxiety: A Feature, Not a Bug
The smoke detector principle illustrates that systems, including the human brain, are designed to prioritize avoiding catastrophic errors over achieving perfect accuracy. This results in a tendency to issue false alarms, particularly in our anxiety responses, which serve as a protective mechanism against potential threats. The overreactive nature of anxiety is thus an evolutionary advantage, ensuring that we remain vigilant and responsive to real dangers, even at the cost of occasional misinterpretations of safety.
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