Revisions to the ekman model and other proposals

The University of Glasgow proposal: reduction to 4 emotions

Despite its great influence, Ekman's model of the six basic emotions is not without debate. Science continues to advance, and more recent studies have proposed revisions.

Research from the University of Glasgow suggests that there may actually be only four basic emotions.

They argue that fear and surprise share very similar initial expressive components, as do disgust and anger, only becoming functionally and expressively differentiated at a later stage.

Expanding Goleman: Aversion and Shame as Social Emotions

Daniel Goleman, on the other hand, proposes expanding the list of primary emotions, adding some that are more social or familial in nature.

He includes aversion and shame, arguing that, although their facial expression may not be as universally identical as Ekman's six, they are fundamental emotions for navigating and regulating the complex environment of human relationships.

Other emotions proposed by authors: Contempt and Flow

The debate over which are the fundamental emotions remains open, and other authors and theories have proposed additional candidates.

Among them are contempt, which some researchers like Ekman himself later considered a distinct seventh basic emotion, and the state of flow, popularized by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

The latter is an experience of immersion and deep enjoyment in an activity, classified as a complex positive emotion.

Current debate on primary emotions

The lack of a definitive consensus reflects the enormous complexity of the emotional world.

This discussion does not invalidate Ekman's model, which remains a fundamental reference, but it does enrich and nuance it.

The current debate revolves around whether emotions are discrete and universal categories, as Ekman argued, or whether they exist on a more dimensional spectrum and are more influenced by culture and language than previously thought Initially.

Summary

The University of Glasgow proposed reducing the basic emotions to four, observing initial similarities in facial expressions such as fear and surprise, or disgust and anger, which only differentiated in later stages.

Daniel Goleman expanded the list to include social emotions such as aversion and shame, which are fundamental to human interaction, although their expressions are not as universal as the emotions proposed by Ekman.

The debate continues with new proposals such as contempt and flow. There is no definitive consensus, but all these ideas enrich our understanding of the complex human emotional universe.