THE MANY COLORS OF OUR INNER WORLD: UNDERSTANDING HUMAN EMOTIONS
Have you ever laughed while tears rolled down your cheeks, or felt oddly calm in the middle of chaos? Emotions are strange, powerful, and deeply human. They shape our experiences, influence our decisions, and help us connect with others. But what exactly are emotions, and how many kinds of emotions do we really experience?
As a psychologist, I’ve spent time observing, understanding, and walking alongside people navigating their emotional landscapes. I’m writing this not just from what I’ve read or studied, but from what I’ve lived and witnessed. And yes, I say this with no hesitation: I am worthy to speak about emotions. This is my field, my passion, and a huge part of the work I do every day.
More than just Feelings
Emotions are psychological and physiological responses to internal or external stimuli. Simply put, they are reactions sometimes fleeting, sometimes intense that arise from how we perceive and interpret what’s happening around or within us. Emotions are not just “feelings”; they also involve thoughts, physical changes (like heart rate or facial expressions), and behaviors.
They help us survive (fear keeps us away from danger), thrive (love builds connection), and grow (sadness can lead to reflection and change). Emotions are like a compass guiding us through the terrain of life.
The Types of Emotions
Psychologists have long debated how to classify emotions, but here are a few major theories:
- Basic Emotions (Paul Ekman’s Theory)
Ekman, a pioneer in the study of emotions and facial expressions, identified six basic emotions that are universal across cultures:
- Happiness – joy, satisfaction, contentment
- Sadness – grief, disappointment, loneliness
- Fear – anxiety, nervousness, terror
- Anger – frustration, irritation, rage
- Surprise – shock, amazement
- Disgust – revulsion, nausea, moral disgust
These emotions are often considered biologically hardwired and visible on the face.
- Robert Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions
Plutchik proposed a more nuanced model, likening emotions to colors on a wheel. According to him, there are eight primary emotions:
- Joy vs. Sadness
- Trust vs. Disgust
- Fear vs. Anger
- Surprise vs. Anticipation
Each can blend with others, creating complex emotions—like how red and blue make purple. For instance, anticipation + joy = optimism, or anger + disgust = contempt.
- Complex Emotions
Beyond the basics, there are emotions we experience that are shaped by culture, memory, and social context. These include:
- Guilt
- Shame
- Pride
- Envy
- Embarrassment
- Gratitude
- Love
They are not always visible on the face and may require language and self-awareness to express.
Emotions Are Not “Good” or “Bad”
We often hear terms like “negative emotions” or “positive emotions,” but emotions themselves aren’t good or bad. They just are. Anger can signal a boundary has been crossed. Sadness may mean something valuable was lost. Even fear has a protective function. What matters is how we understand and respond to them.
This is just the beginning of a deeper conversation. Emotions deserve to be seen, named, and understood not feared or judged. And if this is something you’ve ever struggled with, trust me – you’re not alone.
