The Emotions - Info on Emotions

Written by Ilan Shalif, Ph.D.

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.

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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.