Contents

• 1 Etymology, definitions, and differentiation
• 2 Components
• 3 Classification
  • 3.1 Basic emotions
  • 3.2 Multi-dimensional analysis
• 4 Theories
  • 4.1 Ancient Greece, Ancient China, and the Middle Ages
  • 4.2 Evolutionary theories
  • 4.3 Somatic theories
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      My comment:  
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  Somatic theories: This is my personal favorite.
  
  Somatic theories of emotion claim that bodily responses, rather than cognitive interpretations, are essential to emotions. The first modern version of such theories came from William James in the 1880s. The theory lost favor in the 20th century, but has regained popularity more recently due largely to theorists such as John Cacioppo,[47] António Damásio,[48] Joseph E. LeDoux[49] and Robert Zajonc[50] who are able to appeal to neurological evidence.[citation needed]
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• James–Lange theory

  Main article: James–Lange theory

  In his 1884 article^[39] William James argued that feelings and emotions were secondary to physiological phenomena. In his theory, James proposed that the perception of what he called an "exciting fact" directly led to a physiological response, known as "emotion."^[40] To account for different types of emotional experiences, James proposed that stimuli trigger activity in the autonomic nervous system, which in turn produces an emotional experience in the brain. The Danish psychologist Carl Lange also proposed a similar theory at around the same time, and therefore this theory became known as the James–Lange theory. As James wrote, "the perception of bodily changes, as they occur, is the emotion." James further claims that "we feel sad because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble, and either we cry, strike, or tremble because we are sorry, angry, or fearful, as the case may be."^[39]

  An example of this theory in action would be as follows: An emotion-evoking stimulus (snake) triggers a pattern of physiological response (increased heart rate, faster breathing, etc.), which is interpreted as a particular emotion (fear). This theory is supported by experiments in which by manipulating the bodily state induces a desired emotional state.^[41] Some people may believe that emotions give rise to emotion-specific actions, for example, "I'm crying because I'm sad," or "I ran away because I was scared." The issue with the James–Lange theory is that of causation (bodily states causing emotions and being a priori), not that of the bodily influences on emotional experience (which can be argued and is still quite prevalent today in biofeedback studies and embodiment theory).^[42]

  Although mostly abandoned in its original form, Tim Dalgleish argues that most contemporary neuroscientists have embraced the components of the James-Lange theory of emotions.^[43]

  The James–Lange theory has remained influential. Its main contribution is the emphasis it places on the embodiment of emotions, especially the argument that changes in the bodily concomitants of emotions can alter their experienced intensity. Most contemporary neuroscientists would endorse a modified James–Lange view in which bodily feedback modulates the experience of emotion." (p. 583) 
  

• Cannon–Bard theory

  Main article: Cannon–Bard theory

  Walter Bradford Cannon agreed that physiological responses played a crucial role in emotions, but did not believe that physiological responses alone could explain subjective emotional experiences. He argued that physiological responses were too slow and often imperceptible and this could not account for the relatively rapid and intense subjective awareness of emotion.^[44] He also believed that the richness, variety, and temporal course of emotional experiences could not stem from physiological reactions, that reflected fairly undifferentiated fight or flight responses.^[45][46] An example of this theory in action is as follows: An emotion-evoking event (snake) triggers simultaneously both a physiological response and a conscious experience of an emotion.

  Phillip Bard contributed to the theory with his work on animals. Bard found that sensory, motor, and physiological information all had to pass through the diencephalon (particularly the thalamus), before being subjected to any further processing. Therefore, Cannon also argued that it was not anatomically possible for sensory events to trigger a physiological response prior to triggering conscious awareness and emotional stimuli had to trigger both physiological and experiential aspects of emotion simultaneously.^[45]

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  • 4.4 Cognitive theories
  • 4.5 Situated perspective on emotion
• 5 Genetics
• 6 Neurocircuitry
  • 6.1 Prefrontal cortex
  • 6.2 Homeostatic/primordial emotion
• 7 Disciplinary approaches
  • 7.1 History
  • 7.2 Sociology
  • 7.3 Psychotherapy and regulation
  • 7.4 Cross-cultural research
  • 7.5 Computer science
• 8 Notable theorists
• 9 See also
• 10 References
• 11 Further reading
• 12 External links

    Emotions are our feelings. Literally. We feel them in our bodies as tingles, hot spots and muscular tension. There are cognitive aspects, but the physical sensation is what makes them really different.

Articles on emotion include:

• Anger and Fear: Two closely related emotions.
• Association and Emotion: when we associate with people and events, we feel emotions.
• Basic Emotions: there are lots of emotions, but what are the basic ones?
• Dianetic Energy Levels: A view on the energy that emotions create.
• Purpose of Emotion: what is the real value of emotions?
• Emotional Arousal: The process of getting emotional.
• Emotion and Decision: our decisions are largely emotional.
• Emotion and Investment: Getting them involved.
• Emotions Analytics Types: Three felt evolutionary forces.
• Emotions and Light: Light changes how we feel.
• Emotion and Rationality: which often seem to be mutually exclusive.
• Emotional Intelligence is to emotions what IQ is to cognitive intelligence.
• Empathy: the ability to feel what others feel.
• The Experience of Emotion in the Body: Where we feel.
• Facial Emotional Indicators: Detecting emotions through their expressions.
• Fear and Greed: Common bedfellows in tricky situations.
• Five Dimensions of Emotion: How emotions may be classified.
• Hot and Cold Emotions: High and low arousal.
• Modalities of Emotion: Different dimensions that indicate emotion.
• Positive Emotions: There are several that are not negative.
• Primary and Secondary Emotions: Those that are key drivers and others.
• Regret: The bitterness of being unable to change the past.
• The Arousal Rollercoaster: Going hot and cold.
• Temperament, Mood and Emotion: Emotional states of different duration and cause.
• Theories about Emotion: deeper stuff about emotion.
• The Seven Deadly Sins are all emotions, as are The Seven Virtues.
• Warmth and Competence: Emotions triggered by evaluating others.

A basic of much emotional arousal is that there is a goal at stake somewhere. Our emotions thus cause us to want and not want. And when we have what we wanted, we then have emotions about owning it.

• Emotions of wanting:
  • Anticipation
  • Greed
  • Hope
  • Envy
  • Desire
  • Love
• Emotions of not wanting:
  • Fear
  • Shame
  • Repulsion
  • Contentment
  • Anxiety
• Emotions of having:
  • Happiness
  • Pride
  • Guilt
  • Jealousy
• Emotions of not having:
  • Anger
  • Sadness
  • Distress
• Other mind-changing emotions:
  • Contempt
  • Surprise
  • Arousal

Some emotions are discussed in more detail here:

• Happiness: Many pages on pleasure, joy and hedonism.

  • Three levels of happiness, What makes people happy?, Happiness as a motivator, More...

• Type of Fear: How fear happens.
• Common Fears: A further view of fear drivers.
Four Reasons Why We Get Angry: Types of anger.
 Listening to Anger: How to hear it helpfully.