Why do sensations such as heartbreak/sadness/anxiety feel like physical pain?
In: Biology
My take on it. We suffer physical pain when the mechanisms within our body that we use to sustain life suffer impairment or injury.
As social creatures, we rely on relationships for survival. To suffer an impairment or injury to that mechanism on which our survival depends, is dangerous. Basically, it hurts our ability to survive and procreate so it feels like it hurts.
An example. A group of cavemen get along well and survive. One caveman starts being a dick and the group ostracized him. He’s gonna feel sad, lonely, and probably a bit heartbroken. What’s this gonna spur him to do? How capable of surviving and procreating is he now? He’s gonna go back to the group, he’s gonna survive, and he’s gonna have babies that feel the same way when they get kicked out of the survival group.
Hope this answers your question.
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