The Psycho-Evolutionary Theory of Emotions

Plutchik’s Psycho-Evolutionary Theory of Emotions 38 is a Darwinian position that treats emotions as adaptive reactions to the basic problems of life. But Plutchik goes beyond Darwin’s idea by specifying these life problems and by introducing the concept that primary emotions must come in pairs of oppo- sites—one for adapting to a positive situation (an opportunity), and one for a negative, problematic situation (an obstacle).

Plutchik proposes four problems—identity, temporality, hierarchy , and territoriality. Identity concerns membership in social groups. Plutchik introduces two opposite emotions—acceptance (taking in), and rejection (expelling).

Temporality leads to the development of social institutions such as families, friendships, and communities. Plutchik introduces joy and sadness as adaptive emotions to the positive and negative experiences of temporality.

Hierarchy is a broad concept that includes power, influence, authority, and prestige. Anger and fear are adaptive reactions to the positive and negative experiences of hierarchy.

Territoriality poses a universal problem. Territory re- quires exploration and an ability to plan, monitor, expect, and anticipate. Opposed to the behavior of opening territory

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through exploration is orientation, with its implied loss of control. The most generic terms for these two emotions are anticipation and surprise.

The central idea of Plutchik’s theory is that emotions have purpose in the lives of individuals. Plutchik 39 points out that an emotional sequence of events is problematic. It’s not clear which comes first—the feelings or the correlated physiological changes. A major reason for this uncertainty is the fact that emotions are feedback processes. Plutchik’s sequential model assumes that both external and internal events act as primary triggers for emotional processes. However, events need to be interpreted cognitively in order for them to have an effect on any individual. Then, following cognition or interpretation, a feeling state occurs along with a

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physiological state of arousal. The arousal states are generally preparations for action. Feeling states also tend to be followed by impulses for action. When actions occur, an individual will run, cry, criticize, or laugh. Such overt behavior is not the end

of the emotional process. Rather, it is generally the stimulus that started the chain of events in the first place. Feedback loops may influence impulses for action, feeling states, cogni- tive processes, and initiating stimuli. This means that feelings affect cognition, just as cognition influences feelings.

Using Plutchik’s model, I can analyze my latest experience of joy. The news of the birth of my grandson was a stimu-

The Complex Chain of Events Defining an Emotion

Feeling State

Stimulus

Overt Effect Event

Inferred Cognition

Impulses

To Action

Behavior

Physiological Arousal

Feedback Loops

(Plutchik, 2003)

lating event that triggered an emotional process of joy. I un- derstood it quickly (inferred cognition), and started to feel enormous excitement and delight (feeling state). These emotions flowed through my whole body giving me a strong physical arousal. This gave me the impulse to share the news with my family, to jump with excitement, and to think about how to get to my daughter to see her baby. So I shared the

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daughter and grandson. My excitement changed to feelings of love for the new baby, and satisfaction. I started to calm down when the news was no longer a surprise. This whole process ended with my complete acceptance and love for the new grandson.

I can summarize this experience of “JOY”, by noting that besides the primary emotion of joy, I experienced mainly sec- ondary emotion of delight, which is a combination of joy and surprise. After seeing the baby, I felt love for this boy, which is

a combination of acceptance and joy.

The Complex Chain of Events Defining “JOY”

Joy Excitement Delight (surprise & joy) Curiosity (acceptance & joy)

Impulses to share,

Seeing baby grandson

Birth “Great

Being with d. of

jump, be

Share news, go to see daughter

News”

with daughter

Surprise Strong

Share even more Acceptance

Physiological Arousal

Fulfillment=surprise & joy Love of

Impulse

No surprise Love=acceptance & joy grandson

to calm down

anymore Calm dawn

Feedback Loops

In his theory, Plutchik introduces the idea of a derivate, meaning that some complex structures are derived from sim- pler concepts. He proposes that beyond the eight primary emotions, all other emotions are derivative states occurring as a combination of the primary emotions. In some circumstances, the primary emotion is activated and recruits other emotions. If

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tion; if three, a tertiary emotion; and so on. Similar to color theory, the combining of these primary emotions, at different inten- sities, produces a variety of different emotions. They form emotional patterns that stabilize over time and describe personality traits.

Plutchik 40 also introduces the concept of intensity of emotions. For example, rage, vigilance, ecstasy, admiration, terror, amazement, grief, and loathing all represent emotions with high intensity levels. Anger, anticipation, joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness, and disgust all represent medium level of intensity. Finally, annoyance, interest, serenity, acceptance, ap- prehension, distraction, pensiveness, and boredom represent low intensity levels of the primary emotions. They are pre- sented on the vertical dimension of the color-cone model of emotions.

Revision and Extension of the Psycho-Evolutionary

The Psycho-Evolutionary Theory of Emotions