According to Paul Ekman’s theory, the six basic human emotions are joy, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise. They are considered universal, since they are believed to be innate. Emotions play a very important role in our lives, since they help us modulate our behavior and act quickly in situations where it is necessary.
It is important to highlight that emotions are complex and can vary in intensity and nuances depending on the cultural and personal context of each individual. In this Psychology-Online article, we explain what the 6 basic emotions are and their characteristics.
Happiness
Joy is a positive emotion that is experienced in situations of well-being, happiness, satisfaction or pleasure. It is characterized by a smiling facial expression, sparkle in the eyes and open and relaxed body gestures. Because of the way we put it, it doesn’t seem to have any kind of survival function. It seems to be nothing more than a reflection of our internal state, however, it is one of the bodily systems that moves us to action.
Also it’s a reward for behavior that brings us benefits. When we take some type of action that fulfills a goal, happiness arises. Thanks to that feeling of happiness, we will repeat that behavior to experience pleasure again. These may be the most natural motivators we have. At a physiological level, an increase in heart rate and a better respiratory rate is observed. In addition to that, we find that the brain releases more endorphins and dopamine.
Sadness
Sadness is a negative emotion that arises in response to loss, grief, or disappointment. It is characterized by a downcast facial expression, tears, hunched body gestures, and a feeling of regret. This emotion implies a decreased moodas well as a significant reduction in cognitive and behavioral activity.
The main characteristics of sadness are the following:
- Feeling of regret: Sadness is characterized by a feeling of emotional burden, a feeling of weight or emptiness in the heart. It may be accompanied by a feeling of loneliness or hopelessness.
- downcast facial expression: When we are sad, our facial expression is usually duller. Facial muscles may relax, lips may curve downward, and eyebrows may furrow slightly.
- Crying: is a common response to sadness. Crying can be a way to release pent-up sadness and provide emotional relief.
- Social withdrawal: sadness can lead us to isolate ourselves and seek moments of solitude. We may have less interest in participating in social activities and prefer to be alone to reflect or process our emotions.
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Fear
If we talk about basic human emotions, it is a negative or adverse emotional state. It involves high activation that leads to avoidance and escape from dangerous situations. The experience of fear is that of high tension, coupled with concern for one’s health and safety.
The correlated physiological symptoms show us a rapid rise in activation and preparation for flight. Cardiac activity skyrockets and breathing accelerates. Breathing becomes shallow and irregular. Fear is an evolutionary legacy that has an obvious survival value. This emotion is useful to prepare the body and provoke survival behaviors in potentially dangerous situations. In addition, it helps to learn new protective responses.
Gonna
Anger is one of the basic universal emotions that arises when an individual finds themselves in situations that produce frustration or aversion. The experience of anger is unpleasant. It is accompanied by a feeling of tension that drives us to act. It is a multifaceted and, in many cases, ambiguous emotion. Specifically, the characteristics of anger are:
- Feelings of anger and hostility: Anger is characterized by an intense feeling of anger and hostility toward the situation or person we consider responsible for our frustration or perceived injustice.
- Angry facial expression: When we are angry, our facial expression may show a piercing gaze, furrowed brow, tight lips, and tension in facial muscles.
- Increased energy: Anger is usually accompanied by an increase in physical and mental energy. We feel more alert, activated and prepared to face the situation that caused us anger.
- Aggressive or confrontational responses: Anger can trigger aggressive or confrontational responses, both verbal and physical. We may have the impulse to express our anger through arguments, confrontations, or even acts of violence.
- Irritability and muscle tension: Anger can lead to constant irritability and muscle tension. We may experience a feeling of stiffness, clench our fists, or have sudden movements.
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure: Anger can activate the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and a general feeling of physiological activation.
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Disgust
According to the , disgust is a basic emotion that we experience in response to unpleasant, disgusting or potentially harmful stimuli. Some characteristics of disgust include:
- Feeling of repulsion: Disgust is characterized by an intense feeling of repulsion and aversion towards a specific stimulus, such as nauseating odors, spoiled food or polluting substances.
- Displeased facial expression: When we feel disgust, our facial expression may show a wrinkled nose, tight lips, a frown, and a clearly visible expression of disgust.
- avoidance response: Disgust is usually accompanied by an avoidance response. We instinctively try to get away from or avoid the unpleasant stimulus that produces the feeling of disgust.
- Feeling nauseous or upset stomach: This emotion can trigger feelings of nausea or an upset stomach. It is common to experience a feeling of churning in the stomach or feel like vomiting when faced with stimuli that we find disgusting.
- Decreased appetite: Disgust can decrease our appetite and make it difficult for us to eat or enjoy food when we are exposed to stimuli that we consider repulsive.
- Increased sensitivity to unpleasant stimuli: Disgust can make us more sensitive to unpleasant stimuli in general, even those that would not normally cause us disgust. Our tolerance to unpleasant odors, tastes or textures may be reduced.
It is important to highlight that disgust serves an adaptive function by helping us avoid toxic or dangerous substances for our health. However, the intensity and sensitivity of disgust can vary from person to person, and what may be repulsive to someone may not be repulsive to another person.
Surprise
According to psychology, it is a basic emotion caused by something unexpected, new or strange. In other words, it is when a stimulus appears that the subject had not thought about beforehand. The subjective experience that accompanies surprise is a sensation of uncertainty, temporary and its duration varies depending on the stimulus and the person. The characteristics of the surprise are the following:
- Shocked facial expression: When we are surprised, our facial expression usually shows wide eyes, raised eyebrows, and an open mouth. Our gaze can be fixed on the surprising stimulus.
- Momentary suspension: Surprise can cause a brief pause or freeze in our actions or thoughts. We are momentarily left unresponsive as we process and assimilate the new information.
- Acceleration of heart rate: This emotion can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and breathing. The organism is activated in response to the surprising stimulus.
- Feeling alert and focused attention: Surprise awakens our attention and makes us more alert. We concentrate on the new stimulus and may experience a feeling of greater mental clarity.
- Possibility of mixed emotions: Depending on the nature of the surprising stimulus, surprise may be accompanied by additional emotions, such as joy, fear, confusion, or disbelief. Surprise can be the first step towards experiencing other emotions.
- Desire to explore or investigate: This basic emotion can awaken our curiosity and motivate us to explore or investigate more about the stimulus. We want to understand and learn more about what has surprised us.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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