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What are emotions?

Posted on
1.3.2024
Edited on
23.8.2024

Emotions. They are our everyday companions, they make us feel and guide our decisions. Joy, happiness, affection, surprise, fear, sadness or disgust are just a few examples of emotions. In the physiological sense, emotions are complex psychophysiological reactions to certain stimuli or situations. They influence thoughts, behavior and physical sensations. Emotions play an important role in the perception of experience and are crucial for social interactions, well-being and decision-making.

This article highlights common emotions, describes types of emotions and answers the question of how emotions arise in an easily understandable way. It lays the foundation for understanding emotions and proactively and consciously dealing with emotions.

What are common emotions?

The most common emotions that people experience can vary depending on culture, personality and individual circumstances. Universal emotions experienced by many people around the world include

  • Joy:
    A feeling of happiness, contentment and positive mood, often triggered by success, pleasant experiences or interpersonal relationships.
  • Grief:
    A feeling of loss, pain and sorrow that can occur due to separation, the death of a loved one or other disappointing events.
  • Anxiety:
    A feeling of apprehension, worry or threat triggered by potential danger or uncertainty in the future.
  • Anger:
    A feeling of frustration, anger or hostility that may arise in response to injustice, wrongdoing or personal attacks.
  • Surprise:
    A sudden feeling of amazement or astonishment triggered by unexpected events or unforeseen changes in the environment.
  • Disgust:
    A feeling of aversion or disgust that can be caused by unpleasant smells, tastes or visual stimuli.
  • Affection:
    A feeling of fondness, affection or attachment to others, often experienced in close relationships such as friendships or romantic partnerships.

What types of emotions are there?

Emotions can be divided into different types. These categories include

Basic emotions‍

Basic emotions are often seen as primary and universal human experiences that are similar across all cultures. They include joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.‍

Complex emotion

Complex emotions are created by combining or modifying basic emotions. They are often difficult to describe and can encompass a multitude of nuances and facets. Complex emotions can arise from conflicting or mixed feelings and are often the result of complex human experiences or relationships. They are often the result of deep reflection on our own thoughts, feelings and experiences. They can help us to better understand and process our emotions and motivations and allow us to develop more complex and nuanced responses to the world around us.Examples include love, guilt, pride and shame. Complex emotions can be strongly influenced by individual experiences, cultural norms and social contexts.

Regulatory emotions

Regulatory emotions are emotions that regulate or influence other emotions. They control emotional experience and modulate reactions to certain situations. Regulatory emotions support emotional health. They play an important role in emotion regulation, the process by which we perceive, understand and respond to our emotions. Regulatory emotions include

  • Acceptance:
    The ability to accept unpleasant or distressing emotions instead of fighting or suppressing them. Acceptance enables us to consciously perceive our emotions and give them space without being overwhelmed by them.
  • Compassion:
    The feeling of understanding, care and connection towards ourselves and others in difficult situations. Compassion can help to alleviate negative emotions such as shame or loneliness and increase our well-being.
  • Self-soothing:
    The ability to calm and comfort ourselves when we are faced with stressful or challenging emotions. This can be achieved through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or positive self-talk.
  • Change of perspective:
    The ability to look at our emotions from a different perspective and find alternative interpretations of events. A change of perspective can help to reduce negative emotions such as anger or frustration and contribute to a better understanding of the situation.
  • Self-motivation:
    The feeling of determination, purpose and self-confidence that motivates us to take on challenges and pursue our goals, even when faced with obstacles.
  • Optimism:
    A positive emotion used to improve our mood and strengthen our hope for a better future.

These are used to control or modulate emotions in order to achieve certain goals or comply with social norms. These include strategies such as emotion suppression, emotion adaptation and emotion management.‍

Positive emotions

Positive or good emotions are those that give us a positive experience and a pleasant mood. They help to increase our well-being, strengthen our relationships and improve our quality of life.

  • Joy:
    A feeling of happiness, satisfaction and well-being that is triggered by positive experiences, successes or interpersonal relationships.
  • Gratitude:
    A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for the good things in our lives, be it people, experiences or material goods.
  • Love:
    A strong feeling of affection, connection and devotion towards other people, whether in romantic relationships, family ties or friendships.
  • Hope:
    A positive feeling of confidence and optimism for the future that motivates us to overcome obstacles and pursue our goals.
  • Pride:
    A feeling of satisfaction and self-esteem for our own achievements, accomplishments and personal qualities.
  • Peace:
    A state of inner calm, serenity and harmony that is often achieved through meditation, mindfulness or spiritual practices.
  • Fulfillment:
    A sense of accomplishment and purpose that arises when we use our talents and abilities to fulfill a purpose or help others.‍

Negative emotions

Negative or bad emotions sour the mood. However, labeling an emotion as “bad” is often inappropriate, as they are only one aspect of human perception. Some emotions are perceived as unpleasant or challenging. They are perceived as stressful, can fuel insecurity and affect well-being. These emotions include

  • Anxiety:
    A feeling of apprehension, worry or fear of potential danger or threat, whether real or imagined.
  • Sadness:
    A feeling of grief, loss or dejection, often experienced in response to separation, loss or disappointment.
  • Anger:
    A strong feeling of frustration, hostility or rage that occurs in response to injustice, provocation or personal attacks.
  • Disgust:
    A feeling of aversion or disgust towards certain objects, situations or people that is triggered by unpleasant sensory stimuli.
  • Shame:
    A feeling of embarrassment, self-loathing or inadequacy that occurs when we are ashamed of our behavior, thoughts or characteristics.
  • Guilt:
    A feeling of responsibility or remorse for an action or decision that is considered wrong or morally questionable.
  • Loneliness:
    A feeling of isolation, separation or aloneness that arises when we feel we are not connected to others or are not accepted.

How do emotions develop?

Emotions are mediated by complex neurobiological processes in the brain that involve a variety of regions and messengers (neurotransmitters).

For example, the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex are important brain regions involved in the processing and regulation of emotions.Although emotions are often regarded as subjective experiences, they often also manifest themselves physically. They therefore have objective physiological correlates. Physical reactions to emotions include increased heart rate, changes in breathing, muscle tension and hormonal changes. They can be associated with certain emotions and help to reinforce or modulate them.‍

Emotions are complex psychological states characterized by a combination of subjective experiences, physiological responses, and behavioral expressions. They arise as a result of neurobiological processes in the brain and include a variety of sensations such as joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. Emotions play a central role in adapting to environmental stimuli and regulating social behavior. They influence decisions, motivations and interpersonal interactions and make a significant contribution to human perception and experience.

The most common human emotions include joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust. These basic emotions are felt universally and are triggered by various situations, such as successes or losses. Complex emotions arise from a combination of basic emotions and include feelings such as love, guilt, and pride, which are often shaped by profound reflection and individual experiences. Regulatory emotions such as acceptance, compassion, and self-motivation help to control other emotions and modulate our emotional experience. Positive emotions such as gratitude and hope increase well-being, while negative emotions such as anxiety and sadness are often perceived as burdensome.

[1] Emotions. In: Cod: Lexicon of Psychology. Hogrefe Verlag, Göttingen 2017, ISBN 978-3-456-85643-8

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