Emotions

The subject of basic emotions is more complex than one might think, which is why many researchers have been in charge of making their own definitions of the concept of emotion .

However, at a general level, emotions can be described as a psychological state made up of three characteristics:

• an expressive or behavioral response
• a physiological response
• a subjective experience .

In simpler words, these are sensations that are nourished by the experiences of each person and generate effects on the behavior and organism of the affected individual . Emotions, mainly, are activated from the body.

Thanks to knowledge of brain function, we know that  emotions have been an essential tool for our survival as a species, prompting us to act correctly and adapt to the environment . So  the function of emotions is to guarantee our survival . But how does the brain work to survive?

1. First, it collects the information perceived by the senses (exteroceptive, interoceptive and proprioceptive). And quickly compare it with the biographical and biological knowledge stored to survive. In this way you can tell us quickly if what is happening is pleasant, unpleasant, safe or dangerous.
2. Then it gives a quick and automatic response , which we call emotion . And that manifests itself in the form of bodily sensations, thoughts and action impulses.
3. So, the emotion generated gives us the necessary energy to carry out the action that facilitates our survival . For example, get away from a danger, get closer to the food source.
4. Once he completes his mission, the emotion disappears.

6 basic emotions proposed by Paul Ekman

One of the researchers best known for his work related to emotions is Paul Ekman. To develop his theories, Ekman was in charge of traveling to Papua New Guinea to study the facial expressions of the members of the Fore tribe, an ethnic group characterized by being isolated from society .

The motivation behind this research by Ekman was found in the belief that people’s facial emotions were not an innate characteristic, but rather varied from culture to culture .

Following his research, Ekman found that the Fore tribesmen had no trouble identifying the emotions behind facial expressions in some photographs, despite their lack of contact with other cultures .

Thanks to this discovery, Ekman determined that facial expressions are not determined by cultures , but are universal, so they can be perceived in cultures as opposed as Eastern and Western. As a result of this, Ekman was in charge of establishing six basic emotions:

1. Anger

Anger is one of the most powerful emotions you can feel and is described as a feeling of indignation or anger at being offended or wronged.

It is energetic, explosive and often difficult to control. By definition, it is a strong feeling of dissatisfaction and displeasure. The difficult thing about anger is that it is multifaceted.

It can range from mild discomfort to intense anger. The repercussions can be significant if not managed properly. It can damage your relationships and cause problems in your personal and professional life.

On the other hand, anger can be very constructive. It helps us let go and motivates us to move on when we are upset with our lives as long as that anger is not directed at someone with the aim of hurting.

2. Joy

Happiness is the most sought after primary emotion. Although people experience happiness for different reasons, this emotion is defined as a pleasant feeling of contentment, well-being, and contentment.

Today, psychology is very focused on helping people find happiness, which was not the case until about 50 years ago. However, there is a strong relationship between physical and emotional health, so to be happy, you have to take care of both your body and mind.

3. Disgust

From an evolutionary perspective, disgust developed as a way to help people learn the difference between edible and poisonous foods. Today, it is defined as a feeling of disgust caused by something offensive and unpleasant.

It can be both physical and mental, since it can give rise to strong bodily sensations and a serious emotional imbalance.

4.Sadness

Sadness is something that everyone experiences. It is defined as a transitory state of hopelessness, grief or disappointment. If it occurs too frequently, it can develop into a chronic state of depression.

Its intensity and duration vary depending on the cause that originates it, as well as the individual traits of people.

5.Surprise

A surprise is a brief moment of shock that occurs after an unexpected event. It is often quite strong and can be defined as a feeling of unhappiness or misery, or quite the opposite.

• Research shows that people tend to remember surprises for » a long time, since they are different from everyday situations.

Surprise can trigger the same response as fear.

6 .Fear

Fear is one of the most important emotions we have, a form of apprehension that is usually caused by the perception or feeling of pain, danger or threat.

It is understood as an unpleasant emotion that appears after the perception of danger or a threat.

When we feel fear, our brain goes into fight or flight mode. Our senses are heightened and our heart rate increases. Of course, each person reacts differently to danger and the level of fear we experience can be measured by what a person feels can depend on many factors.

Although fear is an emotion we cannot live without, it is very important not to be controlled by fear.

Primary and secondary emotions according to Goleman

Goleman became known for his research related to emotional intelligence . This researcher determined that there are two types of emotions: first, which are integrated into our DNA, and secondary, which vary according to each person’s learned experiences .

Goleman, like Ekman, proposed that there were six basic emotions : aversion, surprise, happiness, sadness, anger, and fear . In the case of the secondary ones, he mentioned that they are not shared by all people, since they are learned and that they are usually made up of the union of two or more basic emotions.

For example, jealousy is considered a secondary emotion , since it occurs when fear and love are mixed. If there was no love, there would be no fear of losing it, which would not generate jealousy. In the same way, if there were no fear of losing love, jealousy would not arise either.

Goleman also suggested that secondary emotions are characterized by being social, since they are learned by interacting with society . According to his theory, some emotions such as envy cannot be found in some Amazonian cultures, since they lack a sense of belonging, so being everything to everyone, there is no room for envy.

Likewise, he also stipulated that the expressive response of emotions can vary from one culture to another, since, if in any culture the expression constitutes a social stigma, it is usually kept hidden .

Primary and secondary emotions Greenberg

Leslie Greenberg also published her own theory on emotions. This psychologist shares the idea that there are six basic emotions: sadness, disgust, fear, anger, joy and surprise . However, his work differs from others in that he classifies them as follows:

• Healthy primary emotions.
• Unhealthy primal emotions.
• Instrumental emotions.
• Reactive or secondary emotions.

According to Greenberg’s theory of emotions, all basic emotions can be secondary, instrumental, or primary depending on the context. Therefore, he suggested that it is not only important to know the behavior that is being performed, but also the basic emotion behind the behavior, as this is extremely important for emotion-focused therapy .