Tenderness: quick facts
Tenderness is a soft, caring emotion felt toward someone or something perceived as gentle, vulnerable, or dear. It is often triggered by infants, loved ones, or moments of closeness, and it motivates protective,…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Positive
Emotion family / blend
Tenderness
Typical triggers
Babies, loved ones, vulnerability, gentle closeness, caregiving moments
How it's expressed
Softened face, gentle touch, hushed voice, careful and slow movements
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.