What are the differences between emotions and feelings?

Surely more than once you have confused an emotion with a feeling since, in practice, we experience both phenomena at the same time and they are easy to confuse. But It is very important to know what the differences are between emotions and feelings, because the way they are managed is different and the needs they generate are not the same.

In this article We will briefly talk about the main 3 differences between emotions and feelings, The objective is for you to know how to differentiate between these so that you achieve greater emotional intelligence, be more reflective and avoid regrets. Because emotions and feelings can lead us to do things that are the result of the “heat” of the moment, but if we make an effort to identify and differentiate them, it is easier to modify them (Goleman, 1996).

1. Its automatic VS reasoned origin

While emotions originate primarily in the limbic system and the most primitive part of the brain, feelings belong to the frontal lobe. That is, feelings are the result of abstract thinking while emotions are innate and genetically determined as a result of evolution. Likewise, although it may seem strange to us, there is a finite or “maximum” number of emotions that we can have as human animals while there is no maximum number of feelings.

In fact, feelings (as we will see later) are defined at a verbal level while emotions are defined at a psychophysiological level. Feelings have their origin in the brain’s interpretation of events and sensations, while emotions have their origin in the nervous system’s response to rapid responses. (sympathetic and parasympathetic).

Limbic system

2. The speed and rapidity with which they appear and change

Emotions are characterized above all by being quite immediate, they are the organism’s alarm and survival system. Once we have understood what has happened and why we feel one way or another, we are talking about feelings and not emotions. To have a feeling it is necessary to think about what has happened (value the emotion), reflect on how we have behaved and thus begin to work it out psychologically.

Since emotions are born and die quickly, our body has another evaluation and motivation mechanism: feelings. The feeling would be what “remains” of the emotion. In fact, One of the main differences between emotions and feelings is that the feeling develops little by little.can change and modify and is present for days, weeks, months and even years.

3. Intensity: emotions are very powerful while feelings are “softer”

First of all, if we understand that emotions are the main alarm and motivation system with which we are born, we can understand that they will be very intense and powerful. The basic and universal emotions are: joy, anger, fear, surprise and sadness; They are very intense and always move us to act or stop acting.. In this sense, if we refine it very closely, surprise would be a neutral emotion whose function is “to be alert and very aware of what is going to happen.”

If you have seen the movie “Inside out” or “Inside out”, You will observe how emotions always push us to “do something” or “stop doing it.” For example, sadness leads you to distance yourself from others, isolate yourself and connect with the suffering you have. However, The feelings are much more varied and slower and lead us to reflect on what is the best thing we can do to stop feeling uncomfortable or unpleasant.

At this point, it is necessary to highlight that The management of unpleasant emotions is achieved through techniques of deactivation and redirection of attention. On the other hand, the management of feelings is achieved through sentimentally corrective experiences, Socratic dialogue and guided reflection. Thus, deactivation and rapid relaxation techniques can help you.

Finally, we can understand that As there are differences between emotions and feelings, the way of managing these experiences is different. While emotions require a moment of disconnection (for example to avoid increasing anger and losing control), feelings need to be listened to and redirected (what’s wrong with me? What can I do to improve my situation). In any case, both the regulation of emotions and the reinterpretation of feelings is possible and helps to have better psychological health (Bigman, Sheppes & Tamir, 2017).

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