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Why are humans capable of experiencing negative emotions like sadness? An evolutionary perspective on emotions holds that the physiological, psychological, and behavioral characteristics of emotions should be seen as evolved features that have been useful to humans at some point during evolutionary history. In particular, individuals equipped with a genetic makeup that enabled them to experience certain emotions in response to specific stimuli or situations were better able to cope with and respond to recurring challenges and opportunities which, in turn, increased their reproductive success.

The evolutionary benefits of some emotions may seem more straightforward compared to those of other emotions. In particular, whereas one can readily see the benefits of emotions such as anger (preparing the organism to fight) or fear (preparing the organism to flight), the evolutionary advantages of sadness may …