Feelings are complex psychological processes that are sometimes difficult to express. In psychology, feelings are divided into two main categories: primary emotions and secondary emotions. Primary emotions are those that are felt immediately and are generally considered to be universal, such as joy, sadness, anger, fear, and surprise. Secondary emotions are complex, more cognitively based emotions, such as guilt, shame, jealousy, and envy. This article will focus on feeling type, a concept that seeks to categorize the various types of feelings one might experience.
Feeling type is a concept developed by psychologists Robert Plutchik and Paul Ekman. Plutchik proposed the “Wheel of Emotions”, which is a circular diagram representing the eight primary emotions. Ekman proposed the “Atlas of Emotions”, which is a grid-like diagram representing the different emotional states that one can experience. The two diagrams are often used together, as they complement each other and provide a comprehensive overview of the different emotions and their intensity.
Feeling type is based on the idea that each emotion can be categorized according to three main components: intensity, duration, and valence. Intensity refers to the strength of the emotion, duration refers to how long the emotion lasts, and valence refers to whether the emotion is positive or negative. Based on these components, Plutchik and Ekman proposed that there are four basic types of feelings: positive, negative, mixed, and neutral.
Positive feelings are those that are experienced with a high intensity and for a long duration, and are usually associated with pleasant sensations. Examples of positive feelings include joy, love, and excitement. Negative feelings are those that are experienced with a low intensity and for a short duration, and are usually associated with unpleasant sensations. Examples of negative feelings include fear, anger, and sadness. Mixed feelings are those that are experienced with a moderate intensity and for a moderate duration, and are usually associated with both pleasant and unpleasant sensations. Examples of mixed feelings include guilt, shame, and envy. Neutral feelings are those that are experienced with a low intensity and short duration, and are usually associated with neither positive nor negative sensations. Examples of neutral feelings include boredom and apathy.
Feeling type is an important concept in psychology, as it helps to explain the different ways in which we experience emotions. It also provides a framework for understanding how our emotions can affect our behavior and our relationships with others. By understanding feeling type and the various types of feelings that we experience, we can better understand our own emotions and the emotions of those around us.
References
Ekman, P. (2015). Atlas of emotions. 2nd Edition. Retrieved from http://www.paulekman.com/atlas-of-emotions/
Plutchik, R. (2001). The nature of emotions. American Scientist, 89(4), 344-350.
Rudiger, S., & Schulze, L. (2020). Feeling type: An introduction. Psychology & Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 93(3), 339-349.