The wheel of emotions helps us understand and express better the 6 basic emotions

We are living during the fourth industrial revolution, termed the digital age of cyber physical systems, where many Gen Z kids are dedicating most of their waking hours closeted in what is sociologically known as the "bedroom culture" scrolling their time away in digital technology. In the process, many are missing out on so many outdoor activities. Does this explain in part why many up-and-coming youngsters fair poorly in the much-needed street-smart and street-wise skills?

It seems that society might be bringing up children with a high IQ (Intelligence Quotient) but where it comes to EI (Emotional Intelligence), this might very well be seriously lacking. Virtual reality might be robbing them of the gift of expressing emotions and feelings as human contact and touch with real life persons slowly taper away.

Feelings

Feelings are the mental representations of the physiological changes that characterise emotions. They are your personal way of how you name and understand what's happening inside you. When you say, "I am happy", "I am sad" or "I am angry", you are talking about your feelings.

Emotions

Emotions are instinctive, patterned sets of chemical and neural responses triggered by specific situations. They are intense but brief. They are produced by the brain when it detects the presence of an emotionally competent stimulus. They occur automatically, without conscious thought, and are usually accompanied by physiological changes in the body, such as increased heart rate, sweating or changes in facial expressions. Emotions provide an immediate response to certain challenges and opportunities faced by an organism; the feeling of those emotions provides it with a mental alert

6 basic emotions

There are six basic or pure emotions which are found across all cultures and are easily identifiable (happy, sad, fearful, disgusted, surprised and angry).

From a purely neuroscientific perspective, the brain reveals the internal processes that occur when external stimuli trigger emotional responses. The temporal lobes contain the amygdala which is usually defined as the centre of our emotions, and it is within the amygdala where the brain decides whether to enter a fight or flight mode.

Each person reacts in different ways and the chemical reactions in amygdala, which can be computer-generated, do not explain each person's subjective experience regarding emotions.

The study of emotions came into being after circa. 1830. Before, emotions were mainly viewed through the "lens" of superstition, such as the ancient Greeks who believed that ill wind brings about uncontrollable rage while Christianity blamed anger and other negative emotions on demons.

Linguistic, cultural and political aspects of emotions

Further developments in the study of emotions took place during the 1960s and 1970s when the idea that emotions are shaped by our cultures, as well as by our bodies and minds, were taken up. Some cultures might view certain feelings seriously while others, such as in Western English-speaking cultures, the same emotions would seem trivial. For example, the word that describes the emotion "worry" is conceptualised differently in certain cultures.

Hence, emotional language also asks whether different conceptualisation of the same emotion might also lead to people feeling these emotions differently. One of the most complex emotions is love as it is a combination of different emotions such as fear, sadness, anger.

From a political perspective politicians play on our emotional needs. For instance, during the Second World War, the Nazis instilled fear of the Jews and other races who they claimed were going to dominate Germany. Hence, the population felt the need of gaining back control of their country, even if this threat was non-existent. This fear created the need to rebel and attack Jews and other ethnic groups.

Emotions and mental health

A person's emotions are very personal and the genetics or wiring of the brain ("the hardware") is affected by upbringing. Crying, for example, is a way of emotional release and a natural instinctual behaviour we are born with. But as we grow up, our repertoire of emotions grows with us as we become social beings.

As we grow up we learn complex emotions and ways of expressing them, which is also socially influenced. Many times, we shift responsibility of our emotions, such as anger on others to justify our anger and behaviour in such situations as what led to committing adultery. Social norms also dictate values and emotions.

Still, there are persons who cannot control their emotions, some out of lack of emotional awareness and others due to serious mental conditions. There are those who, for instance externalise their emotions through comfort-eating or else they feel an inner need of escape through such behaviour as compulsive buying or window-shopping. Unhealthy habits can develop into illness if not controlled when life becomes overwhelming.

In certain serious mental illnesses, patients who cannot control certain emotions such as anger, rage and frustration, need to be restrained and forced to take medication, due to conditions such as Schizophrenia where the person might endanger others by committing serious crime, such as murder.

In Malta, when an insanity plea is entered, individuals deemed a danger to themselves or society are placed in the Forensic Section of Mount Carmel Hospital, where they may be administered slow-release medication. The Mental Health Act, 2014 in Malta strikes a balance between the patient's independence and their risk of harm to others.

Emotional management

Where EI is present in an individual, emotions are used to help and inform thinking and reason. This means making decisions about what to do and what not to do. It also means knowing when to respond immediately and when to stop and reflect. In other words, there is self-control.

Emotions also help to discern when and how to express emotions such as when to engage or detach. Also, EI means being able to manage other people's emotions in building empathy towards others.

Emotions can be coloured. Each colour can have a different meaning. For example, the colour red evokes anger or love. In interior design and fashion, colour is used to change a person's moods and emotions.

Emotions are triggered by needs (safety, intimacy, identity, competence, meaning and purpose, self-control, fun and spontaneity, independence and volition).

Ultimately, it comes down to how effectively individuals in society can manage their own emotions and those of others without resorting to control or manipulation. This means acknowledging that your emotions are yours, identifying your emotional triggers and recognising your emotional needs. Many organisations employ people who are capable of processing emotions and EI is studied in organisational behaviour. Our educational system through educational psychologists helps in teaching emotional literacy.

EI needs to be developed, keeping in mind that hormonal changes over a person's growth process, especially during andropause and menopause, also affect such faculties as awareness, expression and sensitivity.