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Compare Human Emotions
Compare human emotions side by side on the things that matter: whether an emotion is positive or negative (valence), the basic emotions it draws on, what typically triggers it, and how it shows on the face and body. Every entry is grounded in mainstream psychology. How we fact-check →
Compare emotions →| Emotion | Type | Valence | Family / blend | Typical triggers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amusement | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | Jokes, playfulness, the absurd, gentle surprises, comic timing |
| Anger | Basic emotions | Negative | Anger | Perceived injustice, frustration, threat, being blocked |
| Contentment | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | Safety, satisfaction of needs, gentle pleasures, a sense of 'enough' |
| Disgust | Basic emotions | Negative | Disgust | Contamination, rot, bodily waste, moral violation |
| Excitement | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | Anticipated rewards, new opportunities, thrilling activities, big events |
| Fear | Basic emotions | Negative | Fear | Present, specific danger or threat |
| Happiness | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | Achievement, connection, pleasure, meaning, safety |
| Joy | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | Good news, reunions, achievements, beauty, shared celebration |
| Relief | Basic emotions | Positive | Happiness | End of a threat, resolved uncertainty, passing of pain or stress |
| Sadness | Basic emotions | Negative | Sadness | Loss, separation, disappointment, failure |
| Shock | Basic emotions | Neutral | Surprise | Sudden unexpected news, abrupt events, dramatic reversals, the unforeseen |
| Startle | Basic emotions | Neutral | Surprise | Sudden loud noises, abrupt movements, unexpected appearances, jumps |
| Surprise | Basic emotions | Neutral | Surprise | An unexpected or sudden event |
| Admiration | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Wonder | Skill, virtue, achievement, beauty, witnessing excellence in others |
| Affection | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Tenderness | Close relationships, fond memories, companionship, familiarity |
| Ambivalence | Moods & related states | Neutral | Low arousal | Mixed feelings, conflicting desires, situations with pros and cons |
| Anticipation | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Surprise | Upcoming events, deadlines, expected outcomes, planning ahead |
| Anxiety | Moods & related states | Negative | Fear | Anticipated or uncertain future threat |
| Apprehension | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Fear | Uncertain situations, unfamiliar challenges, anticipated difficulty |
| Awe | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Wonder | Vast landscapes, great art, profound ideas, witnessing skill or beauty |
| Belonging | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness | Acceptance, shared identity, inclusion, community, being welcomed |
| Bewilderment | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Surprise | Baffling situations, total surprise, the inexplicable, overwhelming novelty |
| Bitterness | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Repeated disappointment, lasting injustice, unmet hopes, accumulated grievances |
| Boredom | Moods & related states | Negative | Low arousal | Lack of stimulation, meaning, or engagement |
| Calm | Moods & related states | Positive | Low arousal | Safety, rest, steady routines, soothing environments, resolved stress |
| Comfort | Moods & related states | Positive | Low arousal | Soothing presence, familiar surroundings, warmth, reassurance, rest |
| Compassion | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Tenderness | Witnessing suffering, hardship in others, vulnerability, need for care |
| Confusion | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Surprise | Contradictory information, unclear instructions, complexity, ambiguity |
| Contempt | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger + disgust | Judging another as inferior or beneath regard |
| Curiosity | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Wonder | Novelty, unanswered questions, gaps in knowledge, mysteries, surprises |
| Defiance | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Anger | Being controlled, unjust rules, pressure to conform, threats to autonomy |
| Despair | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Hopeless situations, repeated failure, loss without recourse, dead ends |
| Devotion | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Tenderness | Deep commitment, loved ones, cherished causes, loyalty, dedication |
| Disappointment | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Unmet expectations, dashed hopes, plans falling through, letdowns |
| Dread | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Fear | Anticipated harm, looming events, bad news ahead, inevitable unpleasantness |
| Elation | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness | Major successes, unexpected good fortune, milestones, dreams realised |
| Embarrassment | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Self-conscious | Public mistakes, unwanted attention, social missteps, being observed |
| Empathy | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Tenderness | Others' emotions, shared experiences, listening closely, imagining a viewpoint |
| Envy | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness + anger | Another person having something one wants |
| Euphoria | Moods & related states | Positive | Happiness | Peak experiences, achievement, certain activities, intense positive moments |
| Frustration | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Blocked goals, obstacles, delays, repeated failure, things not working |
| Gratitude | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness | Receiving help, kindness, or a benefit |
| Grief | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Bereavement and significant loss |
| Guilt | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness (self-conscious) | Believing one has done wrong or caused harm |
| Heartbreak | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Lost love, rejection, separation, the ending of a cherished bond |
| Helplessness | Moods & related states | Negative | Sadness | Situations beyond control, repeated failure, lack of options, powerlessness |
| Homesickness | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Longing | Being away from home, unfamiliar places, missing routines and loved ones |
| Hope | Moods & related states | Positive | Anticipation + happiness | Belief that a desired outcome is possible |
| Humiliation | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Self-conscious | Public degradation, being demeaned, loss of status in front of others |
| Indecision | Moods & related states | Neutral | Low arousal | Difficult choices, equally weighted options, fear of the wrong pick |
| Indignation | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Injustice, unfair treatment, violated principles, witnessing wrongdoing |
| Insecurity | Moods & related states | Negative | Self-conscious | Comparison, uncertainty about worth, instability, perceived inadequacy |
| Inspiration | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Wonder | Role models, great works, bold ideas, acts of courage or creativity |
| Irritation | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Minor annoyances, repeated noises, small disruptions, petty hassles |
| Jealousy | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger + fear + sadness | Perceived threat to a valued relationship |
| Loneliness | Moods & related states | Negative | Sadness | A gap between desired and actual social connection |
| Longing | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Longing | Distance from loved ones, unattainable goals, absence, separation |
| Love | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness + trust | Attachment, intimacy, care, shared bonds |
| Melancholy | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Grey weather, quiet evenings, passing time, reflective solitude |
| Nostalgia | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Longing | Music, scents, photographs, anniversaries, returning to old places |
| Overwhelm | Moods & related states | Negative | Low arousal | Too many demands, information overload, competing pressures, time crunch |
| Peace | Moods & related states | Positive | Low arousal | Resolved conflict, acceptance, harmony, inner reconciliation, stillness |
| Pity | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Tenderness | Witnessing misfortune, suffering of others, hardship, perceived helplessness |
| Pride | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness (self-conscious) | Personal achievement or valued group success |
| Rage | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Severe provocation, injustice, threat, betrayal, intense thwarting |
| Regret | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Past choices, missed chances, mistakes, paths not taken, hindsight |
| Remorse | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Self-conscious | Having harmed someone, moral wrongdoing, broken trust, hurtful actions |
| Resentment | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Anger | Perceived unfairness, being slighted, unacknowledged effort, lingering grievances |
| Reverence | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Wonder | The sacred, profound greatness, deep respect, sublime experiences |
| Satisfaction | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness | Completed tasks, met goals, fulfilled expectations, a job done well |
| Schadenfreude | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Self-conscious | A rival's misfortune, downfall of the disliked, comeuppance, reversals |
| Security | Moods & related states | Positive | Low arousal | Stability, safety, dependable relationships, predictable surroundings |
| Self-Doubt | Moods & related states | Negative | Self-conscious | New challenges, past failures, criticism, high stakes, comparison |
| Serenity | Moods & related states | Positive | Low arousal | Calm surroundings, rest, meditation, resolved worries, gentle nature |
| Shame | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Self-conscious | Perceived failure, exposure of flaws, falling short of standards, being judged |
| Smugness | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Self-conscious | Being right, others' errors, perceived superiority, getting one's way |
| Sorrow | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Sadness | Loss, suffering, painful events, witnessing hardship, deep disappointment |
| Sympathy | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Tenderness | Others' troubles, shared concern, hearing of hardship, distress in others |
| Tenderness | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Tenderness | Babies, loved ones, vulnerability, gentle closeness, caregiving moments |
| Triumph | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Self-conscious | Victory, overcoming challenges, winning, succeeding against the odds |
| Trust | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Happiness | Reliability, honesty, shared vulnerability, consistent behaviour over time |
| Vindication | Complex & secondary emotions | Positive | Self-conscious | Being proven right, justice served, doubts disproven, fairness restored |
| Vulnerability | Moods & related states | Neutral | Self-conscious | Opening up, risk of rejection, exposure of feelings, uncertain trust |
| Wistfulness | Complex & secondary emotions | Neutral | Longing | Memories, passing time, things that might have been, gentle reflection |
| Worry | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Fear | Uncertain outcomes, potential problems, responsibilities, what-ifs |
| Yearning | Complex & secondary emotions | Negative | Longing | Deep desires, unfulfilled dreams, distant goals, what one lacks |
Classifications follow mainstream psychology — Paul Ekman's six basic emotions, Robert Plutchik's combinatorial model, and the APA — and describe typical patterns, not rules that hold for every person or culture. Educational information only, not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.
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