Download This Sample
This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!
Sign Me Up
Table of Contents
Emotion is defined as “a complicated reaction pattern integrating experiential, behavioral, and physiological factors.” At the same time, feelings are the capability or aptitude to perceive physical sensations. Feelings cannot exist without emotions, although emotions exist essentially autonomously.
See the fact file below for more information on Emotions and Feelings, or you can download our 28-page Emotions and Feelings worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
EMOTIONS
- All humans, regardless of culture, have emotions. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio hypothesized that they begin in the amygdala limbic system, one of the cortices of the brain that governs human responses to stimuli.
- This brain activity impacts our human behavior and emotional responses and can generate physical sensations (a somatic response).
- If we encounter a dangerous animal in the wild, only one feeling makes sense: fear. This is a primitive, inherited emotion.
- Fear raises our heart rate, alerts us to the danger of a situation, and compels us to act.
- We may choose to flee or organize an assault on the predator, but fear is what motivates us to act.
- All humans experience eight of these primordial, harmful, or satisfying emotions. They have several synonyms, but these are the fundamentals of our emotional wheel:
- Joy: When we encounter something thrilling and extraordinary, we experience joy.
- Sad: When we suffer a loss, we get sad.
- Anger: When we are betrayed, our anger propels us to act.
- Fear: Fear is our natural reaction to danger.
- Surprise: Surprise is a state of astonishment caused by something unexpected.
- Disgust: Our reaction to unpleasant things is disgust.
- Trust: Our appreciation and acceptance of others are shown via trust.
- Anticipation: Interest, curiosity, and awareness are all examples of anticipation.
- Some therapists employ an instrument known as the emotion wheel to assist clients in determining how they feel. There are other variants, but the fundamental one defines eight primary emotions.
- Most stimuli are influenced by our emotions, which define what is essential or damaging to us.
- We would have lousy social skills, weak intuition, and no capacity to respond correctly in challenging situations if we didn’t have emotions.
- The problem with emotions is that they are constantly present, even when we aren’t conscious of them.
- Suppressing or avoiding them may lead to harmful behaviors and poor mental health, which is why psychotherapists want their clients to recognize their emotions; once they do, they can break free from those poisonous patterns and confront those feelings full-on.
- Knowing your emotional state is essential for success in your personal life and business.
- It will help establish emotional balance and improve emotional intelligence and decision-making.
3 COMPONENTS OF EMOTION
- When confronted with a situation, our emotions cause our ideas, attitudes, and beliefs about what is going on to become activated.
- They impact our perception and interpretation of the circumstance, ultimately deciding how we respond. Therefore, emotion is considered to have three components:
Physiological
They determine how we behave unconsciously in the initial minute. For example, if you are terrified of insects and come into contact with one, your pulse rate will increase, your muscles will contract, you will sweat, and so on.
Cognitive
- They enable us to consciously and unconsciously assess the situation, shaping our subjective experience. If you have had terrible encounters with insects, such as painful bites, the appearance of an insect will elicit a fear response in you.
Behavioral
- Continuing with this scenario, this might be bodily movements, changes in facial expression, or voice trembling when you see the insect surrounding you.
FEELINGS
- Feelings are similar to fundamental emotions. However, they play a distinct function in our life.
- Feelings are more specific than emotions – While there are eight universal emotions, they might be experienced differently by various people. For example, we may feel “anger” through sentiments of violence, vengefulness, or resentment.
- There are several manifestations of the same basic feeling. They’re more detailed than merely expressing, “I’m irritated.”
- Our learned response to an emotional trigger – Although everyone is capable of experiencing joy and terror, each person will have a uniquely emotional experience. Our subjective experience will be determined by our learned and unconscious mental connections.
- Assume you have arachnophobia. You learned from a bad experience that you should be afraid of spiders at some time.
- But here’s the catch. We can feel fear in a variety of ways, including terror. There are alternative methods to deal with that emotion.
- When someone is terrified, they may feel excited; thus, even though you both dread the spider, you may react differently.
- Conscious experiences of sometimes unconscious emotions — often caused by trauma – Feelings might appear as conscious or unconscious thoughts of unpleasant emotions.
- Some people resent their parents, but there may be many underlying emotions behind that feeling. As a child, you may have felt terror due to parental abuse or anger due to your parents’ divorce.
- These terrible feelings might remain unseen for an extended period. And, if we don’t recognize them, our sentiments might fester and harm our mental health.
- If you believe this is the case for you, we recommend seeking the help of a therapist or mental health professional to work through traumatic events.
- The environment can influence feelings – Our family, social circles, spirituality, and culture all influence how we react to specific emotions.
- For example, social circles encouraging toxic masculinity may lead to males expressing their emotions inappropriately. In these circumstances, kids are frequently ridiculed for showing melancholy (e.g., “guys don’t weep! Why don’t you man up?”).
- Due to this activity, men are taught to express their emotions through aggression, substance addiction, or food problems. These are abnormal reactions to an ordinarily healthy feeling.
- Religion and culture can also impact how we deal with death and mourning.
- In the United States, it is usual to conduct a wake, funeral, memorial, and post-funeral ceremony, all of which are largely influenced by Catholicism. It’s generally a solemn occasion.
- But, in South Africa, some mourners take a somewhat different approach. They still feel loss and sadness but swiftly transition to a “after-tears” celebration.
- These festivities are centered on consoling surviving families and lovingly honoring the departed.
- Both cultures suffer loss and sadness, but they deal with emotions in different ways.
- Navigating your inner world might be difficult. Emotions and feelings are complicated, and it’s challenging to recognize how they impact your conduct.
- But, if left handled, they can have significant consequences. Unrecognized feelings and experiences can lead to drug misuse problems, anxiety, and depression, among other mental health issues.
- They may also vent their emotions in harmful ways, causing harm to those around them.
- This might manifest as narcissistic conduct at work, such as claiming credit for someone else’s efforts, or as regular spontaneous tears at home.
- If your behavior is causing you or others harm, it may be time to seek professional treatment.
MANAGING FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS
- In the absence of expert assistance, there are several things you can do at home to control your moods and emotions. Here are four ideas to get you started:
DO NOT SUPPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS
- Emotions are an essential element of existence. Repressing them will only cause issues in the future. They can even affect your bodily condition, such as:
- Substance abuse
- Pain and body aches
- Anxiety
- Sleep deprivation
- Depression
- Stress
- Strive to put your feelings into words. Maybe that’s all it takes to weaken their grip on you. Additionally, if you recognize your sentiments, you can take action to reduce them.
ACCEPTING YOUR EMOTIONS
- “Accepting” and “acknowledging” are not synonymous. Labeling your feelings is one thing; letting them reside within you is quite another.
- If you understand that emotions will always play a role in your life, you may focus on being more at ease with them.
BREATHING EXERCISE
- When we experience intense emotions, our brains run in all directions. Steady, deep breaths assist our return to reality.
- Some of this is due to biology. Slow breathing informs your brain that you are not in danger. How could you possibly be? If you were, you’d probably be rushing away, out of breath, and full of adrenaline.
- Breathing reminds us that we are secure. Breathing also aids in the redirection of your focus. It directs your attention to your body rather than your emotions.
LEARN WHEN AND HOW TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS
- We must express our feelings in some way. It is your responsibility to create healthy habits for this to occur.
- If you’re unhappy, you may need to weep; if you’re furious, you may need to scream into a pillow, but the goal is to avoid directing your feelings toward others.
EMOTIONS, FEELINGS, AND MOODS
Emotions
- Emotions are potent sentiments (exhilaration, dread, despair) that endure only seconds to minutes and begin as bodily sensations.
- They are regulated by chemicals released by our brains in response to a trigger or event—basically, our body reacts to whatever is happening around us.
- The chemicals circulate throughout our bodies, producing a feedback loop between our bodies and brains.
- External stimuli usually trigger emotions and virtually always come and go rapidly. Emotions have matching and universal facial expressions and body language, in addition to being specific and a reaction to something.
Feelings
- While emotions begin as bodily experiences, feelings are produced by our thinking about those emotions. So, in other words, feelings are how we interpret emotions and let them sink in.
- “Feel” refers to both physical and emotional sensations. We can, for example, “feel chilly” literally and emotionally. Stories we’ve unknowingly built based on previous events or experiences might weaken or distort our feelings.
Mood
- A mood is a broad state of mind or sensation that can affect your ideas, behaviors, and actions. Moods are less potent than emotions and are not always triggered by an event. Your mood is how you feel throughout time, not how you feel each instant.
- The surroundings, nutrition, exercise, physical health, and what you choose to think about all impact your mood. They can last minutes, hours, or days, and no distinct nonverbal facial expression or body language is associated with them.
- Feelings, emotions, and moods influence how we perceive and live in our surroundings.
- For example, when we are in a poor mood, we tend to feel despair, anger, and fear; when we are in a good mood, we feel happiness and hope.
- When we are depressed, angry, or terrified, we may feel useless and as if our lives do not matter.
- Intense feelings or emotions might have an impact on your mood.
Emotions and Feelings Worksheets
This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Emotions and Feelings across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Emotions and Feelings. Emotion is defined as “a complicated reaction pattern integrating experiential, behavioral, and physiological factors.” At the same time, feelings are the capability or aptitude to perceive physical sensations. Feelings cannot exist without emotions, although emotions exist essentially autonomously.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Emotions and Feelings Facts
- Feelings Check-In
- Guess that Emoji
- The Emotion Wheel
- Zones of Regulation
- Picture it Up!
- Recognizing EMOtions
- Music Therapy
- Movie Time!
- Helping Peers
- Breaking the Stigma
Frequently Asked Questions
What are emotions and feelings?
Emotions and feelings are complex psychological experiences that arise in response to various stimuli or events. They involve a range of physiological, cognitive, and behavioral responses. Emotions refer to brief, intense states that are usually triggered by specific events, while feelings are subjective experiences that result from emotions and can be longer-lasting.
What is the purpose of emotions and feelings?
Emotions and feelings serve several important functions. They provide information about our internal state, help us make sense of our experiences, and guide our behavior. Emotions can also signal the need for action, such as in response to danger or threat. They play a crucial role in social interactions, influencing our relationships with others and our ability to empathize and connect with them.
How do emotions and feelings impact our well-being?
Emotions and feelings have a significant impact on our well-being. Positive emotions, such as joy and love, can promote happiness, resilience, and overall mental health. Negative emotions, such as fear and sadness, can alert us to potential threats or challenges, but if prolonged or unmanaged, they can contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression. It is important to acknowledge and manage our emotions and feelings in a healthy way to maintain optimal well-being.
How do emotions and feelings influence our behavior?
Emotions and feelings can strongly influence our behavior. They can motivate us to take action, such as expressing affection towards a loved one, avoiding danger, or pursuing a goal. Emotions can also impact decision-making, as they can bias our perceptions and judgments. For example, feeling angry may lead to impulsive or aggressive behavior, while feeling sad may result in withdrawal or inaction.
How can we manage our emotions and feelings effectively?
Managing emotions and feelings effectively involves developing emotional intelligence and self-awareness. This includes recognizing and understanding our emotions, identifying their triggers, and learning healthy coping strategies. It can also involve practicing self-care, seeking support from others, and engaging in activities that promote emotional well-being, such as mindfulness, exercise, and creative expression. Professional help, such as therapy or counseling, can be beneficial in developing emotional regulation skills and managing complex emotions.
Link/cite this page
If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.
Link will appear as Emotions and Feelings Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 13, 2023
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.