No matter how wide the palette of emotions is we can still break it in a few segments for the ease of understanding and practical applications. Emotions flow like a river sometimes very serene and quite, other times raging with waves. We can all agree that we feel countless emotions in countless variations of intensity. What Are the Eight Core Emotions on the Emotion Wheel? Combinations of emotions arise when emotions are mixed together and are represented by the spaces in between the petals.

Relations – our core emotions are related to one another.

The layers on the Wheel of emotions separate emotions based on intensity. Towards the middle of the wheel the colors and emotions are more intense and as we move outwards the colors and emotions become less and less intense.

Layers – the model has different circular layers.

The more intense the emotion is that the color represents, the more intense the color is. Every color appears in many forms, from mild to intense.

Each emotion is attributed a color and a shade. The model was presented both in a cone shaped 3D model and as a 2D model that looks much like a colorful flower with petals. The emotion wheel represents the spectrum of human emotions starting from the basic emotions, taking into consideration the intensity of the emotion and the relations between the different emotions.Įmotion wheel representing the range of emotions Exploring the Emotion Wheel The wheel was designed to represent his theory as a visual tool. As a professor and a psychologist his research focused on the study of emotions from an evolutionary perspective. Robert Plutchik in 1980 as a tool to illustrate emotions in a visual form. Each emotion can vary in its level of intensity.All emotions vary in their degree of similarity to one another.Primary emotions can be categorized into pairs of polar opposites.Primary emotions are hypothetical constructs, idealized states whose properties andĬharacteristics can only be inferred from various kinds of evidence.Combinations, mixtures occur as compounds of the primary emotions.

All other emotions are mixed or derivative states.

There is a relatively small number of basic emotions or prototype patterns.

Common elements, or prototype patterns, can be identified. Common elements are however recognizable.

There are different forms of expression of emotions in different species.

Trust results in collaboration, while fear is triggering the flight or fight response.

Emotions increase the chances of survival in the world and adaptation to the environment.

Emotions have an evolutionary history.

Animals and humans both experience the same basic emotions and they do it in similar ways.

The concept of emotion applies to animals as well as to humans.

Plutchik’s psychoevolutionary theory of emotions is based on 10 postulates.

The emotional experience involves both behavioral aspects and cognitive aspects. He claimed that emotions play an important role in our survival. The theory provides a foundation for conceptualizing the domain of emotions. Robert Plutchik emotions have a long evolutionary history. The basics of Plutchik’s Evolutionary Theory of EmotionsĪccording to Dr. What do all those colors and petals mean?.Plutchik’s Evolutionary Theory of Emotions.The wheel of emotions, not only lists emotions but illustrates the various relationships among the emotions. Starting from this categorization he than moved on to create the emotion wheel to help the understanding and navigation of our emotional experiences. Based on his evolutionary theory of emotions he differentiated 8 basic emotions and organized them in pairs of polar opposites. Psychologist Robert Plutchik created a visually appealing -flower shaped – emotion wheel chart, that lists and categorizes human emotions. The psychological tool developed in the 80’s is still popular today and it is widely used for therapy and education.Įmotions are the source of our greatest pleasures and our greatest pains, and yet it can be hard to figure out what we’re feeling, where emotions come from and why we experience feelings and emotions. Robert Plutchik, is famous for his flower shaped visual diagram called the Wheel of Emotions. Decode Your Emotions with The Emotion Wheel

Robert plutchikâ™s wheel of emotions