A look into emotions

There is a concept of basic emotions, from which all other emotions stem. 

This concept dates back to the Book of Rites, a first-century Chinese encyclopedia which speaks of 7 “feelings of men”: 

• Joy 
• Anger 
• Sadness
• Fear
• Love
• Disliking
• Liking

In the 20th century, it was Paul Ekman who identified 6 basic emotions:

• Anger
• Disgust
• Fear
• Happiness
• Sadness
• Surprise

Psychologist Robert Plutchik created the Plutchik Model in which he identified 8 basic emotions, which he grouped into polar opposites:

• Joy-Sadness
• Anger-Fear
• Trust-Distrust
• Surprise-Anticipation

Of course, there are hundreds of emotions that stem from the basic ones, and humans can we feel a surprisingly high variation of emotions daily. 

The Definition Of Emotion

Emotion is often described as a strong feeling triggered by a specific situation. While this is certainly true, emotions are actually much more complex than that.

Emotion is made up of four different components: physiological arousal, cognitive label, expressive behavior, and subjective feeling.

Each of these components works together to create the experience of emotion. For example, when you see a dangerous animal, your heart rate begins to increase, and you may start to sweat. 

This physiological arousal is then interpreted by your brain, which labels the sensation as fear. This label triggers an expressive behavior, such as screaming or running away. 

Finally, you experience the subjective feeling of fear, which is what we typically think of when we think of emotions.

While all four components are important, it is the subjective feeling that has the most impact on our everyday lives. Emotions can be positive or negative, and they can range from mild to intense. However, no matter what they are feeling, everyone experiences emotions in basically the same way.

The Purpose Of Emotions

Emotions are an essential part of our lives, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. But what exactly are emotions? And what is their purpose?

Most experts agree that emotions serve four primary functions: 

1. To communicate our inner state to others.
2. To motivate us to take specific actions.
3. To help us remember important information.
4. To regulate our physiological systems.

In terms of communication, emotions serve as a type of social glue, helping us to bond with others. When we see someone smile, for example, it triggers a positive emotional response that makes us feel happy and more inclined to approach them. Similarly, when we see someone looking angry or sad, it can cue us into their emotional state and help us decide how to respond.

Emotions also motivate us to take action. The feeling of fear, for example, can prompt us to run away from danger, while the feeling of anger can motivate us to stand up for ourselves or fight back against an aggressor. In both cases, the emotional response helps ensure our survival by prompting us to take action.

Similarly, emotions can also help us remember important information. The sight of a snake, for example, might trigger the emotion of fear and prompt us to remember that snakes are dangerous and should be avoided. Likewise, the smell of freshly baked cookies might trigger the emotion of happiness and help us remember where we found the recipe. In both cases, the emotion serves as a type of warning system or reminder that helps keep us safe.

Finally, emotions play an important role in regulating our physiological systems. The emotion of fear, for example, can cause our heart rate to increase and our palms to sweat in preparation for fight-or-flight. 

Similarly, the emotion of anger can cause our blood pressure to rise and our body temperature to increase as we prepare for confrontation. In both cases, the emotional response helps ensure that our body is prepared to deal with the situation at hand.

While emotions may sometimes seem like they are nothing more than a nuisance, they actually serve an important purpose in our lives. They help us communicate with others, motivate ourselves to take action, remember important information, and regulate our physiological systems. Emotions play a vital role in ensuring our survival and well-being.

Next time you find yourself feeling angry, sad, fearful, or happy. Remember that your emotions are there for a reason and try to appreciate them for all that they do.