Emotional feelings are, at their core, conscious mental reactions that we experience subjectively as strong feelings. Based on definitions, an emotional feeling is a state of feeling that is typically directed toward a specific person, situation, or idea, often accompanied by noticeable physiological and behavioral changes in the body.
Understanding emotional feelings involves looking at their key components:
Core Components of Emotional Feelings
According to definitions like the one provided (Ref 1.a, 1.b), emotional feelings are characterized by several key aspects:
- Conscious Mental Reaction: Emotions aren't just passive states; they involve an active mental process that we are aware of. Think of the moment you realize you feel happy or scared.
- Subjective Experience: How an emotion feels is unique to each individual. While many might feel fear in a similar situation, the intensity and personal experience of that fear can vary greatly. It is felt internally as a strong feeling.
- Directed Towards a Specific Object: Emotions usually have a trigger or a focus. You feel anger at someone, fear of something, or love for someone. This object provides context to the feeling.
- Accompanied by Physiological and Behavioral Changes: Emotions don't just happen in the mind; they affect the body.
How Emotions Affect the Body
When you experience an emotional feeling, your body often responds in various ways:
- Physiological Changes: These are internal bodily reactions.
- Increased heart rate (e.g., during fear or excitement)
- Sweating (e.g., during anxiety or stress)
- Muscle tension (e.g., during anger)
- Changes in breathing (e.g., rapid breaths when scared, slow breaths when relaxed)
- Flushing or paling of the skin
- Behavioral Changes: These are external actions or expressions.
- Facial expressions (smiling, frowning, wide eyes)
- Body posture (slouching when sad, standing tall when confident)
- Verbal cues (shouting, whispering)
- Actions (running away when afraid, approaching when interested)
These physical and behavioral manifestations are often automatic and serve evolutionary purposes, such as preparing the body for action or communicating the emotional state to others.
Emotional Feelings as a State
Another way to view emotional feelings is simply as a state of feeling (Ref 1.b). This perspective emphasizes the condition or mood one is currently in, acknowledging that emotions represent a particular internal state, whether fleeting or prolonged.
Here's a simple breakdown of the key elements mentioned:
| Element | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Conscious Reaction | Awareness of the feeling | Realizing you are happy |
| Subjective Feeling | The personal, internal experience of the emotion | How your anger feels |
| Directed Object | What the emotion is focused on | Fear of a spider |
| Physical Changes | Bodily reactions | Increased heart rate |
| Behavioral Changes | External expressions or actions | Smiling or frowning |
| State of Feeling | The overall internal condition or mood | Feeling generally content |
In summary, emotional feelings are complex, conscious experiences that connect our internal state with external triggers, manifesting through both subjective awareness and physical/behavioral responses. They are integral to how we perceive, interact with, and respond to the world around us.
