#Plutchikâ™s wheel of emotions how to

The person monitors how their internal universe is affected by a specific set of events and recognizes what they are experiencing. This component merely involves experiencing feelings. There are five components to how emotions affect our actions: 1. But before we take a deep dive into the subject, let’s first take a brief look at how emotions influence us. The eight primary emotions, according to this theory, are- anticipation, anger, joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness, and disgust.īased on this theory of emotions, Plutchik devised the Wheel of Emotions. There is a varying degree of similarity in all emotions.All primary emotions have a polar opposite.They are ideas that help describe an event or experience. The properties of primary emotions can be inferred from observing animals.All other emotions are a combination of primary emotions.The expression of emotions may be different in different species, but there are common elements among emotions in all animals.This is especially applicable when the animal encounters challenges in its environment. The evolutionary purpose of emotions is to help the animals survive.As a result, they may be expressed differently. Emotions have evolved differently in different animals.He suggested the following ten postulates about the nature of emotions: As a result, the responses that increased the survival of ancient humans were naturally selected.

Plutchik stated that our primary emotions are an evolutionary development, and how we respond to them is greatly affected by the survival possibility offered by it.

He devised the psycho-evolutionary theory, which categorizes emotions and the responses they produce in us. Robert Plutchik was a thought leader when it comes to studying the nature of emotions. The Psycho-evolutionary TheoryĪmerican psychologist Dr. This ultimately results in a mental and emotional state that allows us to work towards our goals.

#Plutchikâ™s wheel of emotions how to

When we start to accept our emotions as they come, instead of suppressing or rejecting them – we also learn how to express and constructively share them. Knowing what we are feeling is incredibly empowering. It can also propel us towards change and self-improvement. This helps create an environment of reliability, trust, and openness. When we learn how to identify our own emotions as well as others, it becomes easier for us to share our feelings. Wheel of emotions acts as a tool for sharing The simplistic approach of the wheel can be beneficial in identifying the polarity of a document and summarizing its emotional content. This is especially helpful when analyzing data gathered from online hate groups. Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions can be used for identifying emotions in text. You can also maintain a journal of your emotions and use it as a tool for self-reflection. It helps you become more aware of your habits and behavior. It aids personal reflectionīy examining the primary emotions, you can identify their stimulus, the physical and mental aspects associated with it, and how it motivates you. It can also help you make sense of a stressful situation and start unraveling it. Labeling and identifying feelings can reduce confusion and uncertainty. The wheel of emotions can help you identify which emotions you are experiencing in a precise manner. Here are a few more ways the Wheel can be used in counseling. The Wheel of Emotions helps us do the same, and that is the first step in solving any problematic situation. When questioned about emotions that we experience on a subconscious level, it can be challenging to identify and verbalize what we feel. The Wheel of Emotions simplifies one of the most complex concepts of our lifetime. This results in the development of complex emotions like submission, awe, aggression, contempt, disapproval, and remorse. For example, the emotions, joy, and anticipation become optimism, and joy with trust becomes love. The outermost circle represents secondary emotions. This is when we see the emergence of emotions like vigilance, ecstasy, terror, amazement, and grief too. Disgust can become loathing just as quickly as trust can become admiration.

Anger is an annoyance at its lowest level, and at its highest level, it becomes a rage. This is why there are many shades of the same emotions. The darker the shade of a particular emotion, the more intense it is. This is reflected in the colors of the wheel as well. This is visible in the arrangement of each emotion:Īs we move towards the center of the wheel, emotions become more forceful. Opposite EmotionsĮach of the primary emotions has a polar opposite. The eight primary emotions are arranged in the middle circle, and they are each denoted by a single color. You will notice that there are four main characteristics of this model of emotions: 1.