Emotions create subjective feelings that are often
evaluated as
“feeling good” or
“feeling bad”. Emotions also tend to increase or decrease our arousal level,
which we often describe as increasing or lowering our energy level. The map shown
here places each of the major emotions roughly where they are often experienced
in these two dimensions.
The placement of each emotion on this map is only approximate and very subjective. Each emotion can vary
greatly in intensity. For example anger can range from mild irritation to
intense rage.
Clearly the energy level of those extremes vary greatly. You can improve your
ability to recognize emotions in yourself by paying attention to how you are
feeling on the good-bad axis and on the energy level axis as you go about your day. Click on
each emotion name to learn more about that emotion.
Two other, more subtle dimensions also differentiate among emotions. The
first dimension describes the “depth of experience” or “depth of emotional
involvement” characteristic of the emotion. The second dimension describes the extent to which
the emotion is either involuntary or deliberate. The major emotions are placed on a
grid along these two dimensions below.
These charts are based on the following data obtained from Averill, J.R. (1975)
“A semantic atlas of emotional concepts”, JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in
Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, Vol. 5, No. 330, pp.1-64
(Ms No. 1103). Each scale is centered on zero with a range of +3 to -3. The four
factors are explained in detail below this table.
The “activation” dimension is
labeled High/Low energy and the “evaluation”
dimension is labeled “Feel good/Feel bad”
on the upper chart. The “depth of experience” dimension is labeled Deep/Shallow
and the “Uncontrol” dimension is labeled Involuntary/Deliberate on the lower
chart.
To better understand each of the four factors used, the fifteen emotional concepts from the list of 558 terms with the highest
and lowest scores on each of the four factors are listed in the following table.
In each column the terms with the highest score (toward +3) for each factor are
listed in the first group. Those with the lowest score (toward -3) are listed in
the second group, below the break in the table. The “uncontrol” factor describes
the extent of autonomous or involuntary response as opposed to deliberate
intent
associated with each concept.
Activation |
Evaluation |
Depth of Experience |
Uncontrol |
Rampageous
Rambunctious
Riotous
Rollicking
Uproarious
Furious
Fierce
Frolicsome
Enraged
Peppy
Ferocious
Excited
Ranting
Vivacious
Hilarious
|
Peaceful
Tender
Pleasant
Kindly
Contented
Tranquil
Harmonious
Serene
Thoughtful
Trusting
Compassionate
Warmhearted
Relaxed
Loving
Affectionate
|
Tragic
Excruciating
Ominous
Foreboding
Grave
Painful
Macabre
Agonizing
Heart-stricken
Loving
Magnanimous
Spiritual
Caring
Understanding
Intense
|
Terrified
Panicked
Blushing
Petrified
Hysterical
Trembling
Neurotic
Nervous
Scared
Spellbound
Infatuated
Delirious
Berserk
Helpless
Frightened
|
|
|
|
|
Dreary
Lonely
Morbid
Grave
Somber
Glum
Despondent
Weary
Solemn
Desolate
Fatigued
Bored
Exhausted
Sluggish
Mournful |
Morbid
Repulsive
Plagued
Evil
Shattered
Hateful
Hellish
Persecuted
Macabre
Cruel
Tragic
Tortured
Bloodthirsty
Violent
Suicidal |
Shaky
Insecure
Listless
Mischievous
Cowardly
Fretful
Coy
Scoffing
Frivolous
Flirtatious
Sheepish
Timid
Peevish
Meek
Giddy |
Devilish
Scoffing
Confident
Greedy
Sneering
Vindictive
Callous
Obstinate
Composed
Heartless
Fiendish
Serious
Determined
Cruel
Diabolical |
|