Emotions Are Universal

What is an emotion? – Considering how important emotions are in our everyday life, there is not as much research on emotions as you might think. In order to study emotions it’s necessary to define them first. Scientists studying emotions contrast them with moods and attitudes:

• Emotions = have physiological correlates, expressed physically (gestures, facial expressions), often result in an action, and result from a specific event.
• Moods = last longer than emotions, perhaps a day or two, may not be expressed physically, and may not come from a specific event.
• Attitudes = have a more cognitive, conscious brain component.

Only Seven Emotions Are Universal

• Happiness

Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.

Happiness

• Sadness

Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness, sorrow, and rage. When sad, people often become outspoken, less energetic, and emotional. Crying is an indication of sadness.

Sadness

• Anger

Anger is an emotion related to one's psychological interpretation of having been offended, wronged or denied and a tendency to undo that by retaliation.

Anger

• Contempt

Contempt is an intensely negative emotion regarding a person or group of people as inferior, base, or worthless—it is similar to scorn. It is also used when people are being sarcastic. 

Contempt

• Surprise

Surprise  is a brief emotional state experienced as the result of an unexpected event. Surprise can have any valence; that is, it can be nuetral/moderate, pleasant, or unpleasant. If a person experiences a very powerful or long lasting surprise it may be considered shock.

Surprise

• Disgust

Disgust is an emotion that is typically associated with things that are regarded as unclean, inedible, infectious, gory or otherwise offensive.

Disgust

• Fear

Fear from the Greek: φόβος,phóbos, meaning "fear" or "morbid fear", is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. In short, fear is the ability to recognize danger and flee from it or confront it, also known as the Fight or Flight response.

Fear