How the Brain Works The Facts Visually Explained by DK (z-lib.org)

COMMUNICATION

Emotions

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Emotions

Emotions are physiological responses to

external events, shaped by experience,

that are accompanied by distinctive

feelings. They evolved to push us away

from danger and toward reward.

Basic emotions

Research suggests that there are four

physiologically distinct conscious feelings:

anger, fear, happiness, and sadness.

Aspects of these combine and allow

us to feel a range of emotions. Broadly,

emotions are positive or negative

experiences, which vary in intensity.

Different emotional states are associated

with particular physiological changes

that affect how a person behaves and

thinks. For example, we view the world

differently when we are relaxed and

when we are afraid. This coordination

of physiology, behavior, and thought

with feeling is what makes us adapt

our behavior in response to events.

Emotions

Other emotional experiences stem from the four

key ones. A recent study found there may be 27

types of emotional experiences, some of which are

shown here. Certain emotions lie along gradients,

such as moving from anxiety to fear to horror.

Only humans cry, and nobody is certain

why we do it—especially given that both

sadness and joy can evoke tears. Crying

serves an interpersonal function,

signaling that we are in emotional

distress to evoke appropriate

social responses. It is also

cathartic, enabling full

emotional engagement

and processing that is

good for mental health.

WHY DO WE CRY?

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HORMONES THAT TRIGGER

EMOTIONAL RESPONSES ARE

ABSORBED IN 6 SECONDS

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