11 Interesting Facts About Human Emotions That You Should Know

Long before Disney decided to shed some lights on ‘if emotions had emotions’ (I’m talking about Inside Out, duh), scientists have been doing it earnestly. Not literally, though, but they did give these abstract entities enough thought and consideration to find some of the most interesting things about them.

And now that I think about it, we are kind of like puppets in the hands of our emotions, aren’t we? Because I have no explanation as to why I cry when Mariam reads her father’s letter, even after reading A Thousand Splendid Suns for the thousandth times, nor can I help blushing when Jamie caresses Claire!

Anyway, enough about my emotions, let’s just get acquainted with some science behind emotions, shall we?

1. Emotions are quite physical, as different body parts react to different emotions

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2. According to scientists, there are 8 primary innate emotions:  joy, acceptance, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger, and anticipation

Other important emotions like ‘love’ are results of permutation and combination of these 8.

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3. If you are sarcastic, chances are you have a good creative flare

Since, to be sarcastic, you need to have a better knowledge and understanding of things.

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4. Laughter is contagious FOR REAL, as your brain prepares your facial muscles for it upon hearing someone else laughing

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5. In fact, your facial muscles kind of control your power of displaying and detecting emotions

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6. Fear makes us actively use more muscles than we usually do

As it prepares our body for anything bad that might come.

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7. And you can actually smell fear, scientists say

A chemical pheromone is released in their sweat when people are afraid, and other people can smell, even if they are unaware of it.

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8. Dreaming helps to diminish the effects of bad memories

Our brain does it by simply making more logical conclusions of those memories, while we are sleeping, and, therefore, can’t use our judgement.

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9. Anger can make people physically sick

Anger increases the long-term risk of heart attacks and strokes and weakens the immunity system.

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10. Smells have quite an effect on our emotions

Especially unpleasant smells trigger the negative emotions immediately.

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11. And that flutter of butterflies in your tummy is actually your stomach crying for help

Because all the blood is rushing to the muscles and stomach isn’t getting enough supply.

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Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions. ― Elizabeth Gilbert.

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