Feelings
Feelings / Emotions
The second point on the triangle is labeled as feelings or emotions. There are reasons that humans (and animals) have emotions– we need them to survive! Emotions help prepare us for action as well as communicate to ourselves and others.
Sometimes we know how we are feeling at a given moment, and other times we have no idea! Learning to identify your emotions can actually help regulate your emotions. And our emotions are so complex, that there actually are a bunch of different scientific theories on emotions, with some theories saying we have six basic emotions and others saying there are up to twenty-seven basic emotions.
Even though our emotions are quite complex, learning to label emotions is a relatively straightforward skill that will help to manage and communicate these feelings more effectively.
** Plutchik, R. (2003). Emotions and Life: Perspectives from Psychology, Biology, and Evolution. United Kingdom: American Psychological Association.
“Wheel of Emotions” by Dr. Robert Plutchik
** Plutchik, R. (2003). Emotions and Life: Perspectives from Psychology, Biology, and Evolution. United Kingdom: American Psychological Association.
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The way we interpret (or think about) a situation impacts how we feel and behave.
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Behaviors
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