Thursday, February 19, 2026

6 basic levels (or categories) of emotion

 



Here are 6 basic levels (or categories) of emotion, often used in psychology as core human emotions:

  1. Happiness
    Feelings of joy, pleasure, contentment, or satisfaction.
    Example: excitement, gratitude, pride.

  2. Sadness
    Feelings of loss, disappointment, or helplessness.
    Example: grief, loneliness, despair.

  3. Anger
    A strong feeling of displeasure or hostility.
    Example: frustration, irritation, rage.

  4. Fear
    An emotional response to threat or danger.
    Example: anxiety, nervousness, terror.

  5. Disgust
    A feeling of aversion or strong dislike.
    Example: revulsion, contempt.

  6. Surprise
    A reaction to something unexpected (can be positive or negative).
    Example: shock, amazement.

These six are commonly associated with the theory of basic emotions proposed by Paul Ekman, who suggested that these emotions are universal across cultures.

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