Chapter 7

THE EMOTIONS

The basic emotions

Many scientists label certain processes in the brain as "Basic Emotions1". Each of them is based, to a large extent, on its own specific multi-neuronal structure. These structures are part of the "Limbic System", which is the mammals' "old brain". The basic emotions are in essence the modern heir of Descartes' "Primary Passions of the Mind". Mixtures of these basic emotions are the apparent emotions of daily life. (Established beyond any reasonable doubt by scientific studies.)

These emotions are basic in the same sense that the colors red, blue and yellow are basic colors. They are so called because by mixing them one can create any other color and shade. The "Basic Emotions" are called basic since they cannot be composed by any mixture of the others.

The relation between observed emotions and basic emotions, resemble the relationship between simple chemical mixtures of air, sea water and soil. Like the substances of the compounds, the contribution of each basic emotion is relatively independent of those of the others. Like the chemical elements of the compounds which are rarely found by themselves in natural condition, so it is with basic emotions. When one needs them in a relatively pure condition, one must use laboratories or other artificial conditions and interventions.

In principle, each instance of emotional phenomena can be broken into its main components or in other words, it can be discerned which of the basic emotions contribute most to its emergence and expression. Actually, we often discern with relative ease the weight of the three most prominent basic emotions at a given moment. Though a difficult and impractical process, each of the emotional phenomena can be broken down to reveal the relative contribution of each of its basic components (i.e. the contribution of each of the basic emotions to its emergence).

Each of the neuronal structures which form the strata of a basic emotion involves several subsystems and processes. These are responsible for the six main functions or aspects of each of the basic emotions. The most prominent one is the experiential aspect, which is the source of the name of emotional phenomena in many languages.

This aspect is the main "interface" between the unaware, swift and short duration changes of the basic strata of emotions, and the processes of awareness and consciousness. The other aspects and components are that of perception, integration, intra-organismic responses, behavior and expression.

For instance, we perceive that we are slipping on the banana skin; we integrate this perception with the perception of the hard surface of the floor and previous memories of falling on it. We feel the emergence of fear or even panic; the autonomic (vegetative) neuronal subsystem responds to the imminent danger with internal changes: a quickening heart beat, perspiration, etc.; the hands are recruited to behave as shock absorbers; a cry accompanied by a facial expression of surprise and fear is emitted. While we are slipping on the banana skin, it is easier to experience than to analyze the relative contribution of the basic emotion of fear, that of surprise, and that of other basic emotions.

The basic emotions are of the bipolar type of the more advanced kind of biological structures. These structures and their functioning are based on two contradictory processes and sometimes, as with the subjective experience of basic emotions, even with contradictory neurological subsystems.

These structures (or subsystems) are active all the time and they can be described as a pair of contradictory forces or vectors, one opposing the other. These structures respond faster and to less powerful influences than the unipolar structures of the more primitive kind.

Consequently, we do not have two different structures of basic emotion for the assessment of danger - one for fear and one for feelings of serenity. Instead, we have one bipolar structure that contains both. The activity of one subsystem of this neurological structure signals and acts in order to create fear. The other subsystem does the opposite. The end result of each moment (i.e. fear versus serenity) and its intensity is the balance of the two opposing processes.

The state of each basic emotion and its contribution to the existence of the individual, including that of fear versus serenity, has two main aspects:

1. The quality of the emotion created, which is the result of the balance between the two contradictory poles. In the case of fear v. serenity, this emotional quality can be described as a temporary point of equilibrium, placed on the bipolar continuum, with fear as one pole and serenity as the other. When the activity of one of the poles overwhelms the other, the point depicting the resulting emotion is at one of the poles, and we have clear-cut fear or serenity.

   In the other cases, the balance will place the point somewhere in between, either nearer to the fear pole or nearer to the serenity pole - according to the specific balance of the moment. When the proportion of the fear pole contribution rises, the point of demarcation moves toward this pole, serenity is lowered and fear rises. When that of serenity increases, the point moves in the opposite direction, and so does the subjective experience.

2. The intensity of the basic emotion, which is the sum of the activity of both subsystems (and contradicting processes) is relatively independent of the quality of the emotion. For instance, we can be in a clear state of fear or serenity and still experience each at a very mild intensity. The precise level of intensity resulting from the activity of a specific basic emotion depends on the level of general arousal of the individual and the relative weight of the other basic emotions.

One of the two poles of each basic emotion has usually more survival value than the other. Therefore, we tend to experience it more often and in stronger intensities than the other. Sometimes, when things are complicated, we can experience a quick fluctuation of the experience between the two poles of a basic emotion or a number of them.

The following is a tentative list of 15 basic emotions:

1. Contentment (Pleasure - Sorrow)
2. Concern (Love - Hate)
3. Security (Fear - Serenity)
4. Play (Seriousness - Frolic)
5. Belonging (Attachment - Solitude)
6. Will power (Volition - Surrender)
7. Energy (Rigor - Flimsiness)
8. Frustration (Anger - Leniency)
9. Involvement (Interest - Boredom)
10. Self Respect (Pride - Shame)
11. Eminence (Superiority - Inferiority)
12. Respect (Adoration - Scorn)
13. Vigilance (Wariness - Dreaminess)
14. Expectancy (Surprise - Routine)
15. Attraction (Disgust - Desire)

If you try to analyze an emotional experience, and some of the ingredients are too hard to fit to any of the 15 basic emotions, it might be because the list is not complete, as the studies in this area are still in the probing stage.

This edition of the book will not expand on each of the basic emotions. It will focus on characteristics, factors and denominators which are common to all, and are most interesting or most important for the understanding and use of the General Sensate Focusing Technique.

top | chapter 7 cont. | table of contents | definitions |