Dr David McGrath

Dr David McGrath

Dr David McGrath

Spine Physician

MB BS (Hons) FAFOM, RACP, FAFMM
Master of Pain Medicine


From earlier articles
1. Emotions aid survival
2. Emotions determine operational success in any environment
3. Environments determine the possible expression of specific emotions
4. Emotions are auto-regulated by disturbances
5. Reflective Emotion
6. Consensual Emotion

Emotions, in general, have another property, which we could call Convergence.
1.In a food plaza, there are a number of food stalls. This environment is suited to the emotion of hunger allowing full expression for a hungry person. Each food stall has its own distinctive disturbance pattern, but for a hungry person, they all lead to the same behaviour of eating.
2. A rabbit will flee into its burrow, with any number of disturbing environmental inputs.
3. A lion will behave agressively, with a multiple of disturbances

This property of emotions expands the usefullness. There is a multiplication, of a successful pattern. Of course, mistakes are made, but overall there is increased survival value.
1. We may eat from the wrong food stall
2. The rabbit may run into its burrow with a gust of wind
3. The lion may damage other members of a pride.

Emotion Success Success Mistake Failure
Convergent Emotion a b1 b2
Precise Non Convergent Emotion c d1 d2

In the food hall example, we could consider success as entirely happy with the meal, a mistake as disliking the food, and failure as going hungry. A convergent emotion corresponds to, not being very particular or fussy. A precise emotion is, seleting only the favourite cuisine. Putting in some numbers.
EmotionSuccess Success Mistake Failure
Not very Particular about food 10 10 0
Only eat Vietnamese food 1 0 19

In this example, a person with convergent emotional behavior, never goes hungry, but she will be disappointed 50% of the time. A more particular person, is likely to never be disappointed, but go hungry most of the time.
A similar argument applies to the rabbit and lion. A rabbit may go into its burrow many times, but not get eaten. A lion will maintain respect in the pride, despite the possibilty of physical damage.

©Copyright 2007 Dr David McGrath. All rights reserved