There is a broad range of scientific inquiry on the nature and importance of studying human emotions. Several scientists have maintained that the study of science and concepts of emotions are unnecessary for the science of behaviour. Clinical psychologists have in the past described problems of adjustment and some types of psychopathology as emotional problems. The opinion of analysts is usually varied regarding the place of emotions in life and human affairs (Izard, 2013). Therefore, it becomes necessary for individuals to identify emotions in their bodies and how they are manifested.
FEAR : Apprehension, anxiety, distress, edginess, jumpiness, nervousness, panic, tenseness, uneasiness, worry, fright and feeling overwhelmed.
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Fear is usually viewed in many ways; as an emotional state, a motivational force or as a stimulus. The emotional state is of importance in this particular discussion since the primary focus is on identifying the emotions in our body and how they are manifested. There are common manifestations of fear that was experienced for example changes in autonomic activating systems such as a rise in heart rate and breathing rate (Suomi, Harlow et al., 2015). In some instances, I tend to develop allergic reactions when I see some animals or objects that I have a great fear. Some disturbing thoughts come into my mind when I read these emotion words of concern. For example, I picture myself locked up in a dark room, being chased by a gang of thieves at night or even at the hands of a cheetah in savannah grasslands of Kenya.
CONFUSION: Bewildered, uncertain, puzzled, mystified, perplexed, chaotic, foggy or unaware.
Confusion has been experimentally identified as being beneficial to learning where the goal was to test a theoretical model that casually links confusion and deep knowledge (D'Mello et al., 2014). Confusion is particularly manifested in my brain where I tend to be in a state of uncertainty whether to do something or not. For instance, when there is fire alarm in the school hall I am usually uncertain on the action to take, and at the same time, the whole place is chaotic. The thoughts that I get as I go through these words include; getting arrested for no apparent reason, being caught up in the middle of a civil war or being in an unknown city or town.
ANGER: Aggravation, agitation, annoyance, destructiveness, disgust, envy, frustration, irritation, grouchiness, grumpiness, rage
Anger is an unyielding emotion that can quickly transform a friend or a stranger into an enemy. The object of anger can be described as being more immediate, concrete and less tied to universal principles (Averill, 2012). Anger is manifested in the body through increased heart rate, uncontrolled muscle contractions as well as eye dilations. There are individual images of situations that come into my mind when I read through these emotion words of anger. For instance, the picture of a long-time friend who has betrayed me or lied to me is embedded in my mind.
SADNESS: Alienation, anguish, despair, disappointment, gloom, grief, hopelessness, insecurity, loneliness, misery, unhappiness or rejection.
Depression usually exerts different influences on causal judgments and the human perception of various life scenarios. The emotion of sadness leads to depression and anger management issues in some people. Psychologists and therapists are the best professionals to consult in cases of people who are depressed due to sadness. There are very many thoughts that come to my mind when I read these emotion words such as the death of a friend, classmate or even a family member. The loss of a loved one has a significant impact on our social perception of the world and leads to a state of sadness, grief, misery and unhappiness.
SHAME: Guilt, embarrassment, humiliation, invalidation, regret, remorse or mortification.
The self-conscious emotions of guilt and shame typically occur when people evaluate themselves through the eyes of other people (Muris et al., 2014). There are times in our lives when we do something that is not morally upright, and we end feeling remorseful or guilty. The human body reaction to such emotions includes hiding one's face when in a group, apologizing by word of mouth to others and sometimes physical withdrawal from the society as a result of immense shame. Several ideas come to mind as I read through these emotion words such as feeling ashamed for farting in class or being caught stealing something in the neighbourhood.
LOVE: Affection, arousal, attraction, caring, compassion, desire, fondness, infatuation, kindness, liking, longing, warmth, sympathy or sentimentality.
Love is an emotion that is familiar to many people all over the world and is viewed as an acquired innate emotion. However, not every individual has gotten an opportunity to experience this particular passion. Love is manifested in my body through my eyes, heart and facial expressions especially when I see something that I like (Muris & Meesters, 2014). For instance, I tend to get a feeling of desire or sexual arousal when I see someone of the opposite gender or even feel sympathy and concern for needy or old people.
JOY: Amusement, bliss, contentment, eagerness, elation, enjoyment, enthusiasm, excitement, exhilaration, hope, optimism, pleasure or satisfaction
Joy is defined as the feeling of great happiness and satisfaction deep within someone especially when something good happens to them or is done to them. People experience feelings of joy for different reasons depending on their moral standing and societal values attributed to happiness (Niedenthal & Brauer, 2012). For example, I feel enjoyment when I see my parents are working together in the family without any fights.
Summary
Emotions are significantly diverse and usually have different manifestations in our bodies depending on the influence they have towards us. People have varied thoughts and images when they come across emotion words or when they remember certain events in their lives. Therefore, it is important to keenly understand how our emotions manifest themselves in our bodies to develop sensitivity to these feelings and help reduce distress.
References
Averill, J. R. (2012). Anger and Aggression: An Essay on Emotion . New York: Springer-Verlag
D’Mello, S., Lehman, B., Pekrun, R., & Graesser, A. (2014). Confusion can be Beneficial for Learning. Learning and Instruction , 29 , 153-170.
Izard, C. E. (2013). Human Emotions . New York: Springer Science & Business Media.
Muris, P., & Meesters, C. (2014). Small or Big in the Eyes of the Other: On the Developmental Psychopathology of Self-conscious Emotions as Shame, Guilt, and Pride. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review , 17 , 1
Niedenthal, P. M., & Brauer, M. (2012). Social Functionality of Human Emotion: Annual Review of Psychology , 63 , 259-285.
Seaward, B. L. (2016). Essentials of Managing Stress . New York: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Stahl, B., & Goldstein, E. (2010). A Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Workbook . Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
