The nature of emotions is a controversial topic because different systems are involved in their occurrence. Therefore, deciding whether emotions are reactive or deliberative is quite difficult. On the one hand, basic reactions to external triggers seem to be an innate quality of every person. For example, babies may show fear or joy at a very young age. They lack sufficient experience and knowledge to assess the situation critically, so their responses are low-level, reactive neural systems.
Moreover, from an evolutionary point of view, this position is quite easily justified by the need for emotions for survival. In unusual circumstances, the brain and consciousness can switch to an autonomous mode and act independently of a person’s wishes. The nervous system operates much faster than cognitive processes, so emotions serve as an automatic defense mechanism.
Furthermore, the reactive nature of emotions is supported by their consistency across people, regardless of cultural or social context. Although the manifestation of these reactions may differ, they are essentially the same. In addition, differences emerge when moving to more complex emotions, such as suffering or disgust, whereas basic reactions, such as fear, anger, and joy, have the same manifestations across people.
If all emotions were the consequence of complex cognitive processes involving understanding the situation, analyzing it, recalling the experience, and delivering a response, this process would take much longer. Slow reactions, which could result from the deliberative nature of emotions, would make social interaction difficult or put the person in danger.
At the same time, one should not deny that a person can and often should control his emotions. However, this happens as automatically as control of any physical activity. For example, when people hear their favorite song, they do not necessarily start dancing or singing along.
In a simplified sense, the same thing happens with emotions: the brain offers a reaction, and a person either accepts it or not. It occurs under the influence of circumstances or the individual’s cultural background and implies a deliberative component in emotions. However, this does not negate that a reaction to external triggers occurs, meaning emotions are predominantly reactive.