According to Paul Ekman, there are six basic emotions. He developed this theory based on his extensive research and all of them are represented below:
Happiness
People tend to focus on happiness when it comes to a type of cheerful emotion characterized by various feelings such as satisfaction, and joy. Since the 1960s, positive psychology has seen a significant rise in research regarding happiness.
Although it is regarded as a basic human emotion, some factors that can trigger happiness are culturally influenced. For instance, culture tends to emphasize the importance of attaining certain achievements, such as having a high-paying job or gambling roulette casino games for real money, which may result in happiness.
The exact factors that can trigger happiness are often highly individualized and complex. Research has shown that happiness affects mental and physical health so it has been believed that health and happiness are connected.
Sadness
Another type of emotion is sadness which can be triggered by various factors such as grief, depression, and disappointment. Although sadness is a common emotion that people experience, it can be triggered by severe depression, as well.
Depending on the cause of the sadness, its severity and type can vary. In addition, people can react differently to their feelings. For instance, some individuals may avoid hurting themselves and use coping mechanisms such as self-medicating. On the other hand, other people’s actions can prolong the duration of their sadness.
Fear
Powerful emotions such as fear can significantly affect one’s survival instincts. When a person experiences fear, it can trigger an increase in heart rate and respiration as well as a more alert mind, although everyone can experience fear differently exposed to certain situations.
The emotional response to a threat also referred to as fear can be triggered by such factors as our thoughts about possible dangers. However, there are people who tend to enjoy experiencing fear-provoking situations.
Disgust
A sense of revulsion can be induced by various factors, such as an unpleasant smell or sight. According to researchers, this emotion evolved to react to dangerous or harmful food items in most cases. For instance, individuals tend to react with disgust when they taste or smell bad food.
Corpses, infections, rotting flesh, and unsanitary conditions are also some of the things that can trigger a disgusted reaction. Moral disgust is also frequently triggered by individuals witnessing immoral or scandalous behavior.
Anger
A powerful type of emotion is called anger, which is expressed by experiencing feelings such as frustration and hostility. Like fear, the body can use anger to respond to a threat. When a person feels threatened, they might try to protect themselves.
Although anger is typically regarded as a negative emotion, in some cases it can actually be a blessing aiding people to identify their needs and finding ways to resolve their problems. Unfortunately, anger can become a problem if it is expressed in a harmful manner leading to violent outbursts or aggression.
Surprise
Another type of emotion that is commonly referred to as a basic human emotion is surprise. It is characterized by a short-circuiting physiological response that can be triggered by experiencing something that is unexpected. For instance, a frightening surprise can occur when an individual jumps out of a tree and scares people as they walk to their cars at night.
A pleasant surprise can occur when a person receives an unexpected visit from their friends. For instance, to see one’s friends celebrating their birthday.
Surprise, unusual news, and events can have a significant impact on how people behave. When people feel surprised, they might experience a rapid spike in adrenaline, which can prepare them for either a fight or running away.
