The 6 Types of Basic Emotions and Their Effect on Human Behavior

Our daily lives and interactions with others are shaped by a wide range of feelings. It can feel like these feelings are in control of us at times. The feelings we’re having at any particular time have a role in shaping our decisions, our behavior, and our worldview.

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Researchers in the field of psychology have also spent time classifying the many feelings that people have. Several ideas have developed to classify and offer explanations for the wide range of human emotions.

Basic Emotions

In the 1970s, psychologist Paul Eckman proposed that humans around the world had a core set of six emotions. He named six feelings: joy, sorrow, disgust, fear, shock, and rage. Later, he added things like pride, humiliation, embarrassment, and excitement to his list of primary feelings.

Combining Emotions

Robert Plutchik, a psychologist, proposed a “wheel of emotions” that functioned similarly to a color wheel. Similar to how multiple hues can be achieved by combining different colors, the same is true for emotions.

This theory proposes that the fundamental emotions function in a manner analogous to that of building blocks. Complex emotions, like ambivalence, are combinations of these simpler feelings. Love, for instance, is created by combining simpler feelings like happiness and trust.

Happiness

Happiness, of all the other possible feelings, is the one most sought for by humans. To be happy is to experience the positive emotions of happiness, joy, enjoyment, satisfaction, and a general sense of well-being.

Since the 1960s, numerous academic fields, particularly the subfield of psychology known as positive psychology, have considerably boosted their study of happiness. Such feelings are sometimes communicated by

Expressions on the face, like a smile
Language used by the body, such as a casual attitude
Positive, encouraging tone of speech

Despite its status as a foundational human feeling, our cultural backgrounds strongly shape our assumptions about what will bring us joy. For instance, popular culture often suggests that if you work hard enough, acquire a house, and make enough money, you’ll finally be happy.

Sadness

Disappointment, despair, hopelessness, apathy, and a generally downcast disposition are all hallmarks of sadness, another sort of emotion.

Sadness is a normal human emotion, shared by everyone at some point. Prolonged, intense bouts of sadness have been linked to the development of depression. Among the many possible ways to convey sadness are:

Crying
Sombre disposition
Lethargy
Quietness
Absence of social interaction

Different people experience different kinds and degrees of sadness, and they respond to those feelings in different ways.

Fear

You’ll be more equipped to deal with dangers in your environment thanks to this answer. Some examples of how this kind of emotion can be communicated are:

Body language: including a widening of the eyes and a retraction of the chin
Signs of trying to go out of sight or get away from a dangerous situation
Rapid breathing and heart rate are examples of physiological reactions.

Of course, not everyone is bothered by the same things. It’s possible that some people are more easily frightened than others, and that certain environments or items are particularly potent fear-inducers.

The feeling of fear that arises in response to a real and present danger. When we anticipate risks or even just think about prospective dangers, we might create a similar response; this is what most of us call anxiety. One form of anxiety is social anxiety, in which the sufferer dreads interacting with others.

Disgust

One of Eckman’s initial six basic emotions is disgust. There are many methods to express disgust.

Signaling distaste with one’s body by avoiding the source of the odor
Changes in one’s physical state, such throwing up or retching
Expressions on the face: frowning, puckering the lips, etc.

This aversion can result from exposure to an undesirable flavor, appearance, or aroma. Scientists suggest that this feeling arose as a protective mechanism against potentially deadly meals. It’s common for people to feel repulsed by spoiled food, for example.

Anger

Anger is a strong emotion marked by irritation, irritation, anger, and hatred against other people. Anger, like fear, can trigger the body’s “fight or flight” reaction.Anger is a normal response to risk, and it might make you more determined to take active steps to avoid harm. Expressions of anger include:

Expressions on the face, such irritation or anger.
Signaling with the body, such as making a bold gesture or withdrawing eye contact
Vocal inflections, such as a harsh or shouting tone
Changes in the body’s physiology, such as profuse sweating or flushing
Aggression: when someone hits, kicks, or throws anything.

In spite of popular belief, there are occasions when feeling angry is beneficial. It might be helpful in defining what you want from a relationship and in spurring you to take action toward resolving issues.

Surprise

This feeling might be either favorable or bad, or even neutral. As you walk to your car late at night, for instance, you might be startled by someone who suddenly appears from behind a tree.

A pleasant surprise would be coming home on your birthday to find that all of your friends have come to celebrate with you. Characteristics of surprise include:

Expressions on the face: frowning, eye-widening, mouth-opening, etc.
Reactions in the body, such as recoiling
Expressions of emotion through speech: yelling, screaming, gasping

The fight-or-flight reaction can also be triggered by the emotion of surprise. An adrenaline rush may occur when someone is shocked, preparing their body for either a fight or flight response.

Other Types of Emotions

People are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, not limited to Eckman’s six basic emotions. According to Eckman’s view, these fundamental feelings are shared by people of all backgrounds and cultures.

However, various hypotheses and emerging studies continue to investigate the vast emotional spectrum and its classifications. Later, Eckman expanded his list to include other feelings, although he argued that not all of these feelings were similarly transmitted in facial expressions to his initial six. He eventually came up with a list of feelings that included: