Primary Emotions: A Review of the Literature
Emotions are a fundamental aspect of human experience and functioning. In particular, primary emotions, or those that are instinctive and powerful, are thought to play an especially important role in people’s lives. This article provides an overview of research on primary emotions, including the various definitions of primary emotions, the evidence for their existence, the different theories of their role in human life, and implications for their relevance to mental health.
Definition of Primary Emotions
Primary emotions are generally considered to be those that are innate and powerful, with a universal expression and a strong, immediate impact on one’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior (Keltner & Haidt, 2003). Although there is no consensus on the exact number of primary emotions, the majority of theorists agree that the core emotions are fear, anger, surprise, disgust, joy, and sadness (Ekman, 1999; Keltner & Haidt, 2003; Plutchik, 1980).
Evidence for Primary Emotions
The idea that there are certain emotions that are innate and universal has been studied across a variety of contexts. For example, facial expressions of primary emotions have been observed to be the same across different cultures (Ekman, 1999). Additionally, research has found that in response to certain stimuli, people experience the same primary emotion regardless of their prior knowledge or experience (Keltner & Haidt, 2003). This suggests that primary emotions are universal and instinctive.
Theories of Primary Emotions
Theories of primary emotions generally attempt to explain how and why emotions are so powerful and universal. One influential theory is the James-Lange theory, which proposes that emotions are the result of physiological changes in response to external stimuli (James, 1884). This theory suggests that the body’s reaction to a certain situation is what causes the emotion, rather than the situation itself.
Another prominent theory is the Cannon-Bard theory, which suggests that emotions and physiological reactions occur simultaneously in response to external stimuli (Cannon, 1932). This theory proposes that the body’s reaction to a situation and the emotion experienced are independent of each other, and both occur at the same time.
Implications for Mental Health
Research on primary emotions has important implications for mental health. For example, understanding the role of primary emotions can help identify potential triggers and warning signs of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression (Keltner & Haidt, 2003). Additionally, recognizing the power of primary emotions can be a useful tool for managing one’s mental health, as it can help individuals identify their emotional states and take steps to manage them in healthy ways.
Conclusion
Primary emotions are powerful, innate, and universal aspects of human experience. Research on primary emotions provides insight into their definitions, evidence for their existence, theories of their role in human life, and implications for their relevance to mental health. Further research on primary emotions is necessary to better understand their effects on mental health and to develop effective strategies for managing them.
References
Cannon, W. B. (1932). The wisdom of the body. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.
Ekman, P. (1999). Basic emotions. In T. Dalgleish & M. Power (Eds.), Handbook of Cognition and Emotion (pp. 45-60). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9, 188-205.
Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 17(2), 297-314.
Plutchik, R. (1980). Emotion: A psychoevolutionary synthesis. New York, NY: Harper & Row.