Understanding Emotions

The more you understand emotions, the less they control you

What Are Emotions?

Emotions are complex reactions to significant life events, involving behavioral, experiential, and physiological factors.

Components:

• Subjective Experience
• Physiological Response
• Behavioral or Expressive Response

Basic Human Emotions

Emotions in theory can range from 6 to more than 200. We can just stick with the basics.

• Happiness/Joy – Pleasure, contentment, excitement
• Sadness – Grief, loneliness, disappointment
• Anger – Frustration, irritation, rage
• Fear – Anxiety, worry, panic
• Disgust – Revulsion, aversion (to smells, behaviors, etc.)
• Surprise – Shock, amazement (can be positive or negative)

The Purpose of Emotions

• Communication (to others and ourselves)
• Protection (fear triggers fight-or-flight)
• Motivation (anger can drive action)
• Social bonding (empathy, love)

The Emotional Process

1. Stimulus (external or internal)
2. Perception (how we interpret it)
3. Physiological response
4. Emotional experience
5. Behavioral response

Strategies for Emotional Understanding

• Label your emotions specifically
• Track emotional triggers
• Practice mindfulness
• Develop emotional vocabulary
• Consider the message behind the emotion

Why?

• Better understanding of yourself
• Clarity
• Improved mental health
• Enhanced decision-making
• More effective communication