What Are the 10 Basic Feelings? A Deep Dive into Human Emotion

Why Do We Even Feel Stuff?

Feelings… ugh, they can be beautiful or messy, thrilling or downright confusing. But here's the kicker: they serve a purpose. Emotions help us navigate the world, communicate with others, and even survive (yep, evolution baby). You touch something hot? Fear and pain shout “pull your hand away!” You lose a loved one? Sadness shows others you need comfort.

So let’s break it down — what are the core emotions that drive this whole human experience?

The Classic 10 Basic Feelings (According to Psychology)

You’ll find different theories out there, but many experts lean on the list inspired by psychologist Paul Ekman and expanded by others. Here's the rundown:

1. Joy

Pure, unfiltered happiness. That warm bubbly feeling when you hear great news or laugh till your stomach hurts. It's contagious and — let’s admit it — we all want more of it.

2. Sadness

Oof. Heavy, huh? Sadness hits when something’s lost — a dream, a person, even just a rough day. It’s not all bad though. It slows us down, makes us reflect… and sometimes helps us grow.

3. Fear

Classic survival mode. Your heart races, your palms sweat, and suddenly you're scanning for the nearest exit. Fear keeps us alert — but yeah, sometimes it overreacts (thanks, anxiety).

4. Anger

Boom. Fire in the chest. Anger can push us to set boundaries or defend what matters… or, you know, yell in traffic (not ideal). It's powerful but needs handling with care.

5. Surprise

Think: “Whoa, what just happened?” Surprise is short-lived but intense. It helps us adapt to the unexpected — whether it’s a birthday party or a loud crash outside your window at 3am.

6. Disgust

Ever smelled rotten milk? Exactly. Disgust protects us from danger — not just physical, but sometimes moral too. Like when you hear someone say something awful and feel it in your gut.

7. Trust

This one’s subtle but oh-so-crucial. Trust builds connection, makes cooperation possible, and literally shapes every relationship we have — from friendships to work to love.

8. Anticipation

It’s the butterflies before a first date. The jitters before an exam. It’s looking ahead and feeling something coming — good or bad. And sometimes, it's even more intense than the thing itself.

9. Guilt

Ugh, that sinking feeling. Guilt tells us when we’ve messed up, especially with others. But hey, it's also a sign of a conscience. (Unless it spirals… then it just nags.)

10. Love

Ah, the big one. Love isn’t just romantic — it’s the glue of humanity. It’s found in family, friendship, pets, passions. It's layered, complex, and arguably the most powerful feeling we’ve got.

Are These Feelings Really "Basic"?

Core vs. Complex Emotions

Psychologists often debate whether these are truly basic or if they combine to form more complex emotions. For example:

• Embarrassment = a mix of fear + guilt

• Pride = joy + trust + maybe a sprinkle of surprise

And let’s not forget that culture, personality, and context change how these emotions show up. What's joyful to one person might be awkward or even threatening to another. Wild, right?

A Quick Personal Tangent (Because Why Not?)

Okay, real talk: I once cried watching a commercial where a dog waited at the door for its owner — who never came home. No dialogue, just music and the dog’s eyes. Was it sadness? Was it love? Was it a weird emotional spiral on a random Tuesday night? Maybe all of it. Emotions are rarely neat and tidy. And honestly, that’s what makes us human.

Why Knowing These Feelings Actually Matters

Emotional Awareness = Emotional Power

When you can name what you're feeling, you’re not just at its mercy. You can manage it. You can respond instead of react. You can empathize with others better, communicate more clearly, and (bonus!) dodge unnecessary drama.

Final Thoughts

So, what are the 10 basic feelings? They’re your emotional toolkit — a mix of instincts, reactions, and signals from your brain-body system. Understanding them doesn’t mean you’ll never cry in public again (been there), but it does mean you can navigate life with a bit more clarity and compassion.

And really, isn’t that what it’s all about?

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.