How do feelings differ from emotions? Mind and feelings. Manifestation of emotions and feelings

"Mind and feelings" - this phrase is so similar to the title of the novels of Jane Austen. But no, the terms are found on the covers of her books only separately. But both are the main features that differentiate sapiens from an animal. But the line between them is obvious.

The first attempt to find differences

Exploring the human psyche, it is much harder to explain how feelings differ from emotions. And both are quite a lot. At first glance it seems that emotions are primary and light-weight, if such a definition is applicable to them from the point of view of a psychologist. For example, a sense of fear. With him man lives, it is developed, the verb "was frightened" does not apply to it. This term characterizes the suddenness and instant action. But when a person is so scared, he develops a sense of fear.

Vivid examples

Of course, this is not the main indicator of how feelings differ from emotions. It happens, of course, that, for example, a man feels a deep sense of dislike at once. But in fact, before the emergence of this feeling, in his mind for years was the acceptance or rejection of something. That is, speaking in a common language, feelings are checked by time, and emotion is a unique reaction of the organism to something, it is connected with a certain time and situation. Thus, it can be said that emotions are short-lived and situational. Of course, this view is not a professional, but an amateur, and in psychology there are specific definitions, than feelings differ from emotions.

The question of a thousand years

It is clear that these issues have interested people since ancient times. And every philosopher, every school adhered to its concepts and interpretations. Disputes are still going on. Ancient Greek thinkers believed that there are 4 passions - desire, joy, sadness and fear. Descartes increased the number to 6-surprise, love, hate, desire, joy and sadness. What are they talking about? In ancient Greece, were not surprised and did not like? Or are these two feelings part of desire and joy? And can you call surprise by feeling? Does it have depth and duration in time? After all, there are also definitions of "shortness of feeling", "small feelings" and so on. A person who is in a state of constant surprise, sooner or later will fall into the "house of sorrow and sadness."

The difference is very thin

We have to state that the classification of emotions and feelings is not only clear, but even absent. Spinoza generally believed that there are so many feelings and emotions, how many objects that cause them. Maybe this is true, otherwise, why they sometimes call feelings "complex." And in this concept can be so much combined that sometimes there is a need for the formation of a new term.

There are, however, the main feelings. Unquestionably, this is love and hunger. Everyone knows that he rules this world. Although hunger is a feeling of an animal that determines the existence of the organism in general, and it should stand somehow separate from spiritual concepts. It turns out that the feelings of love acquire paramount importance. But the power and intensity with them may well compete with hatred. They are very similar in their impact on human actions. Both can serve the birth of a sense of patriotism - the noblest feeling in the world, both can push a person to murder.

Hence the need for additional explanations of the given feelings of love or hatred, explanations. For example, "low love" or "noble feeling of hatred." In these cases, love is bad, and hatred is good. Spinoza is right. Emotions are also difficult to classify.

Variety and many feelings and emotions

Indeed, it is difficult to explain intelligently how feelings differ from emotions, but one can safely say that there are many of those. Absolutely everything that a person encounters in the world around him, everything that such abilities of the organism react to as hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch - everything causes the individual certain, inherent only to him, feelings.

Perhaps, you can search for a distinctive line with the help of such a bundle as "mind and feelings"? Reason very strongly limits feelings - this is what distinguishes a person from an animal. It can be argued that not all (love and hatred blind the mind), but the vast majority of human feelings are subject to reason. And emotions, because of the sudden appearance, as a rule, no. A sudden fright or horror can control the mind? No way. Confirmation to that is the expression of emotions. They can not be controlled or controlled - even if it is not a cry, but a dumbness from horror, a person will turn pale or, on the contrary, get filled with anger - these estimated reactions of the body do not obey the mind. Scouts of high class do not take into account, they lack the human emotions - an indicator of professionalism. And only this control over emotions the science of physiognomy owes its appearance.

Explicit differences

From the above facts, the conclusion suggests that the manifestation of emotions and feelings is different. The latter, as a rule, can be hidden for years, emotions - no. Can it serve as another highlight of the difference that, to such concepts as hunger, self-confidence, humor, patriotism, the noun "feeling" harmoniously approaches. But to fright, sudden pallor, trembling of hands, the formation of hair on end it does not apply. True, this all can be called the reaction of the body, but it's pure emotions, which, as a rule, are always explainable. Why did the man get scared, why did he turn red, where did he want to sleep and wake up in three days. Some feelings can not be explained. The first love on this list. The people's wisdom about the anger of this feeling and the poor goat states the decisive inexplicability of its emergence.

An easy explanation of the cause of the occurrence and the powerless confusion before the phenomenon is also a distinguishing feature. In the continuation of the topic, we can consider the origin of these concepts. "Emotion" came from the Latin emovere - to be shaken, to worry, and "feeling" is a native Russian word, in translation from the ancient language means to be something receptive. Even their interpretations are different. The feeling is shocking with quantity, up to the polarity of the shades, the emotion is always concrete.

Many shades

As you can see, the characteristics of emotions and feelings are very diverse, there is no clear scientific classification, there are many points of inconsistencies. For example, some researchers say that it is not possible to hide an emotion, but a feeling - on the contrary, others argue that the former, on the contrary, do not have an outward appearance, but the latter have. It should be noted that in the near future they will not agree.

If you try to somehow generalize the above, then you can get such a picture. It can be argued that feelings are manifestations of the soul, and emotions are of the body. It is pertinent to note that the former relate to the social sphere, the latter gravitate toward the chemical reactions of the organism. Emotions are primary, feelings are composed of them. Hide the first is impossible, strong feelings can be hidden for a very long time. Was it not from here that hypocrisy was born? Feelings are multifaceted, emotions are specific. They are different in duration. Multifaceted and long-term sensations, as a rule, are always explainable, short-term and sudden exist on an unconscious level. Talking about these two interrelated, interpenetrating phenomena can be endlessly long, and each time a new nuance or stroke will appear. What needs to be said is the function of emotions and feelings and their impact on human life.

Primacy of emotions

Emotions are primary, so you have to start with them. They are positive and negative. Protecting and destructive. The very existence of the organism depends on emotions. Functions are classified. There is a signal function or communicative. Emotions are expressed by the muscles of the face and body, gestures of movements. For example, a person could not hide a joyful smile in response to something or rushed to push the child off the roadway, slapped the scoundrel. These emotions meet the conditions of human existence in society.

Regulatory function is responsible for the balance of the body. Excess of feelings can be expressed in crying, screaming - thus relieving tension. I cried, and it became easier. Hence the advice of close people at times when it is not easy for a person: "and you cry."

Reflective function is defensive in nature. Emotions allow a person at a subconscious level to concentrate and avoid danger: in time to pull his hand or deviate.

The stimulus function (as seen from the name) pushes and determines the direction of the action. A person feels that something needs to be done - probably from here the notion of an "inner voice" was born.

The reinforcing function is that strong emotions are fixed in memory and grow into a feeling or cause a desire to achieve something specific.

Switching function allows you to place accents and take over certain emotions. A classic example is overcoming a sense of fear.

The basis of the existence of a reasonable person

Hence it can be concluded that feelings and emotions are the basis of life. They respond directly to the physical existence of the organism, for the right and opportunity to be called a person. Undoubtedly, feelings enrich the life of a person, fill it with meaning, prolong, at last. There is such a thing - to live for the benefit of someone (or put on the feet of grandchildren, or finish the business started). Often such feelings cause a person to live, despite the ailments, overcoming the disease. Emotions and feelings stimulate and condition the mental activity of a person. In a word, life itself is impossible without them.