Sorrow: quick facts
Sorrow is a deep and serious form of sadness, felt in response to loss, suffering, or painful circumstances. It is weightier and more enduring than passing unhappiness, often carrying a sense of solemn gravity. Sorrow…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Sadness
Typical triggers
Loss, suffering, painful events, witnessing hardship, deep disappointment
How it's expressed
Downturned mouth, tears, heavy posture, slowed speech, quiet demeanour
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview; National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) — Depression. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.