Affiliation:
1. Medical Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Abstract
Abstract
Humans usually are not left alone when they are ill or injured, and this makes a big difference in survival and healing: for instance, with the caring support of the group, a broken bone can heal when it would otherwise hinder survival. Being sick or injured in humans is inherently social and is based on emotional communication and negotiation. On the one hand, emotions of pain and malaise bring about adaptive behavior changes in the sick individual and communicate the sick status to others by displaying emotional expressions of suffering. On the other hand, potential helpers may offer care based on emotions of compassion, or may avoid the coughing and sneezing individual because they are disgusted or afraid of infection. This chapter argues that emotional aspects of sickness and healing are deeply rooted in the evolutionary past and play an important though underappreciated role in healthcare in the modern day.
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