The Wheel of Emotions
Understanding and Naming Feelings
The Wheel of Emotions, developed by psychologist Robert Plutchik, is a powerful tool for understanding human emotions. It visually represents how different emotions relate to one another, helping individuals identify, process, and express their feelings more effectively.
How the Emotion Wheel Works
The wheel is structured in layers:
Core Emotions: At the center are eight basic emotions: joy, trust, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, and anticipation. These are the foundation of human emotional experiences.
Secondary Emotions: Moving outward, emotions mix to form more complex feelings. For example, joy + trust = love, and anger + disgust = contempt.
Tertiary Emotions: The outermost layer represents subtle variations of emotions, offering a more nuanced way to describe feelings.
Why the Wheel of Emotions is Useful
Improves Emotional Awareness – Helps individuals name and understand what they’re feeling.
Enhances Communication – Supports clearer expression of emotions in relationships.
Aids in Emotional Regulation – Identifying emotions is the first step to managing them.
Supports Therapy & Healing – Encourages self-reflection and deeper emotional work.
Using the Emotion Wheel in Therapy
We can use the wheel to:
Identify emotions when feeling overwhelmed or stuck.
Explore emotional triggers and patterns.
Develop coping strategies by understanding emotional responses.
Improve relationships through better emotional communication.
Emotions are complex, but the Wheel of Emotions provides a structured way to explore them. Whether in therapy or daily life, learning to recognise and name emotions is a powerful step toward emotional well-being.
