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Our emotions have a major impact on the way we think and behave. On a day-to-day basis, they shape the way we perceive things, influencing our decisions and our responses to situations and their circumstances…

- The amalgam -

We often use the terms emotions, feelings and moods interchangeably, even though they are different responses :

Emotions are reactions to stimuli : An emotion is usually fairly short and intense. They are likely to have a precise and identifiable cause.

Feelings are what we experience as a result of emotions : Feelings are influenced by our perception of the situation. This is why the same emotion can trigger different feelings in different people.

Moods are a temporary emotional state : Moods are caused by clear reasons, we might have the feeling that everything is going well this week, so we're in a good mood. But in some cases, it can be difficult to identify the specific cause of a mood. For example, we might feel gloomy for several days for no clear, identifiable reason.

- Theses -

The foundations of the study of emotions involve three critical components :

Subjective (how we experience emotion) : We often experience mixed emotions when faced with certain events and situations. These emotions can occur simultaneously or one after the other :

When we start a new job, we experience excitement and nervousness ;

When we get married or have a baby, we experience joy and anxiety.

Physiological (our body's reaction) : We've all felt our stomachs knot up with anxiety, or our hearts palpitate with fear. The autonomic nervous system controls our body's involuntary responses, such as blood circulation and the digestive system. The sympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for controlling the « flight or fight » reactions, which automatically prepare our body to flee or face danger.

Expressive (the way we behave in the face of emotion) : Our ability to interpret the expressions of others is linked to what psychologists call emotional intelligence. And even if a certain number of expressions are considered to be universal. Socio-cultural norms play a role in the way we express and interpret our emotions and those of others.

The palaeontologist Charles Darwin proposed the evolutionary theory, which suggests that emotions are adaptations that enable humans and animals to survive and reproduce :

Love stimulates mating and reproduction.

Fear protects us from predators.

The James-Lange theory (the psychologist William James and the psychiatrist Carl Lange) maintains that our physical reactions are at the root of our emotions : If someone runs at us screaming, our heart rate increases, making us feel afraid. Facial feedback theory develops this theory and suggests that facial movements influence emotion.

The Cannon-Bard theory (psychologists Walter Bradford Cannon and Philip Bard) refutes the James-Lange theory, asserting that emotional and physiological responses are independent and simultaneous : When we see a snake, we feel fear, while our body prepares to flee.

The Schachter-Singer theory (psychologists Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer) suggests that our thoughts are the source of our emotions : If our brain judges a situation as threatening, we feel fear as a result.

- Primary -

In 1972, the psychologist Paul Ekman suggested the existence of six universal emotions common to different human cultures :

Fear : This can increase our heart rate and trigger the « fight or flight » response. It responds to both real and fictional threats (horror films, rollercoasters).

Disgust : This is triggered by a physical experience, such as seeing or smelling rotten food, blood or poor hygiene. It can also surface when we witness something immoral or distasteful.

Anger : This is expressed through facial expressions such as frowning or shouting. And while it's important to find a healthy outlet for our anger, it can also motivate us to make positive changes in our lives.

Surprise : Whether pleasant or unpleasant, we may open our mouths or gasp when we are surprised. Like fear, it can trigger our « fight or flight » response.

Joy : Many people aspire to joy because it is a pleasant emotion accompanied by a feeling of well-being and satisfaction, underlined by a smile.

Sadness : This emotion is often expressed by crying, being silent or withdrawing from others. Types of sadness include grief, despair and disappointment.

In 1999, Paul Ekman adapted his list to include : embarrassment, excitement, contempt, shame, pride, satisfaction and amusement.

- Secondary -

In the 1980s, the psychologist Robert Plutchik introduced the « wheel of emotions », a system for classifying emotions that showed that several emotions can be combined or opposed (in the same way that an artist mixes primary colours to create other colours).

Primary emotions are universal and secondary emotions are derived from them and are sometimes even variations of them. Secondary emotions can include frustration, pride, envy and jealousy (I'm frustrated because I'm so sad).

- Understanding -

When we interact with others, it's important to give clues so that they can understand how we feel. Usually these cues come through body language, such as facial expressions. In other cases, it may involve verbalising how we feel.

Just as our own emotions provide valuable information to others, the emotional expressions of those around us provide a wealth of social information. Social communication is an important part of our daily lives and being able to interpret and respond to the emotions of others is essential. This enables us to respond appropriately and build deeper, more meaningful relationships with those closest to us. Understanding other people's emotional displays gives us clear information about how we might need to respond in a particular situation.

- Acting appropriately -

Emotions increase the likelihood that we will act :

When we are angry : We are more likely to confront the source of our irritation.

When we feel fear : We are more likely to run away from the threat.

When we feel love : We want to share it with our partner.

At the same time, this adaptive role encourages us to act and take measures that will maximise our chances of survival or satisfaction. And so we tend to do everything we can to feel positive emotions and minimise negative ones.

The amygdala is responsible for triggering the emotional responses that prepare our bodies to deal with things like fear or anger. This is why feelings trigger a number of physiological responses that prepare our bodies to respond to challenges, dangers and/or flight to safety or refuge.

- Deciding -

Even in situations where we think our decisions are guided solely by logic and rationality, emotions play a key role. It has been shown that emotional intelligence enables us to make coherent decisions that are adapted to our needs. Researchers have discovered that people with certain types of brain damage that affect their ability to feel emotions also have a reduced ability to make good decisions.

Conclusions

Emotions can be fleeting, persistent, powerful, complex and even overwhelming. They can motivate us to act in specific ways and give us the tools and resources we need to interact socially. They have a strong influence on our daily lives and we make decisions based on them. Understanding our emotions can help us to navigate through life with greater ease and stability.

If we are struggling to manage our emotions or feelings, let’s consider talking to a life coach or mental health professional.

What do you think?