Emotion is a physical and emotional sensation that is caused by some stimulus, which can be a feeling or an event. Experiencing emotions is very personal, they can be felt differently by each person.
It is the emotion that makes a person react to an event. Depending on the emotion experienced, physical reactions such as altered breathing, crying, redness and tremors may occur.
The etymology of the word emotion indicates that it has its origins in Latin, in the word ex move, which means "to move out" or "to move away". This meaning demonstrates the natural reaction to emotions.
Until today there is no exact definition of the concept of emotion or how many emotions there are. What is known is that human beings are capable of experiencing countless emotions, mainly because the feelings they provide in each person are very specific.
One of the best known theses is by psychologist Robert Plutchik, who says that the human being has eight emotions: confidence, joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, aversion and anticipation.
See the meanings of Sadness, Fear, Surprise and Aversion.
Another well-known theory, by psychologist Paul Eckman, says that there are six basic emotions: joy, sadness, fear, surprise, disgust and anger.
Theories try to explain what the basic emotions are, but this is not to say that only these can be felt. The emotions of anger, fear, joy and sadness are considered basic and linked to the survival instinct. But each person can feel emotions in a different way or even a mixture of emotions.
Knowing how to manage emotions is important to live better and be an emotionally healthy person. This administration of what is lived and felt is called by psychology as emotional intelligence.
The area of the brain that is responsible for feeling and controlling emotions is the limbic system.
Find out which are the main types of human emotions.
Difference between emotion and feeling
Emotions are natural reflexes to events, they are a physical or chemical response commanded by the human brain.
Feelings, on the other hand, are a consequence of emotions and are felt by each person according to their experience, personality, culture and upbringing.
Feelings can be defined as the observation of emotions and the reactions provoked by them.
Emotions are unconscious reflexes of the human being and feelings are more conscious and related to the evaluation of emotions. They are complementary because the emotions experienced give rise to the feelings.
Learn more about the meaning of Feeling.