Feelings Chart
The Feelings Chart is a reference tool covering feelings chart, emotions chart, feelings wheel, feelings chart for kids. Use the chart below to look up values instantly. Printable and downloadable versions are available on this page.
Feelings Chart — Core Emotions Reference
| Core Emotion | Mild to Moderate Feeling Words | Intense Feeling Words |
|---|---|---|
| Happy | Pleased, content, glad, cheerful, amused, satisfied, grateful, hopeful | Joyful, elated, ecstatic, thrilled, overjoyed, euphoric, blissful |
| Sad | Disappointed, down, gloomy, unhappy, melancholy, longing | Heartbroken, devastated, despairing, grief-stricken, miserable, sorrowful |
| Angry | Annoyed, frustrated, irritated, bothered, displeased, exasperated | Furious, enraged, outraged, livid, seething, hostile |
| Fearful | Worried, nervous, uneasy, anxious, apprehensive, concerned | Terrified, petrified, panicked, dread-filled, horrified |
| Disgusted | Displeased, put-off, uncomfortable, averse, repelled | Revolted, nauseated, appalled, sickened |
| Surprised | Curious, interested, startled, confused, uncertain | Astonished, amazed, shocked, stunned, bewildered |
Source: Based on Paul Ekman's six universal basic emotions and Robert Plutchik's wheel of emotions
Plutchik Wheel of Emotions — Reference Chart
Psychologist Robert Plutchik proposed eight primary emotions arranged in opposing pairs — each emotion has a range of intensity from mild to intense and emotions can combine to form more complex feelings.
| Primary Emotion | Mild Version | Intense Version | Opposite Emotion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy | Serenity | Ecstasy | Sadness |
| Sadness | Pensiveness | Grief | Joy |
| Trust | Acceptance | Admiration | Disgust |
| Disgust | Boredom | Loathing | Trust |
| Fear | Apprehension | Terror | Anger |
| Anger | Annoyance | Rage | Fear |
| Surprise | Distraction | Amazement | Anticipation |
| Anticipation | Interest | Vigilance | Surprise |
Source: Plutchik R — The Nature of Emotions, American Scientist 2001
Feelings Vocabulary by Category
| Theme or Category | Related Feeling Words |
|---|---|
| Positive — connection and belonging | Loved, valued, appreciated, accepted, included, supported, connected, close, warm, cherished |
| Positive — achievement and confidence | Proud, accomplished, capable, confident, strong, competent, successful, empowered |
| Positive — calm and peaceful | Peaceful, calm, relaxed, at ease, serene, content, centred, grounded, safe |
| Positive — energised and excited | Enthusiastic, motivated, inspired, excited, eager, alive, energised, passionate |
| Difficult — disconnection | Lonely, isolated, excluded, rejected, ignored, invisible, unimportant, abandoned |
| Difficult — powerlessness | Helpless, hopeless, trapped, stuck, overwhelmed, defeated, resigned, small |
| Difficult — vulnerability | Embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated, exposed, vulnerable, raw, insecure, self-conscious |
| Difficult — confusion and uncertainty | Confused, lost, unsure, uncertain, conflicted, torn, numb, detached |
| Difficult — physical stress feelings | Tense, tight, restless, agitated, on edge, jittery, depleted, exhausted |
| Complex or mixed | Nostalgic, bittersweet, ambivalent, wistful, relieved, surprised (positive), moved, touched |
Source: Nonviolent Communication (NVC) feelings inventory and Brené Brown's Atlas of the Heart
Using a Feelings Chart
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For children — feelings charts help young children develop emotional vocabulary before they have the words to express what they are experiencing. Point to the feeling face or word that matches how the child looks and name it together. This builds emotional literacy that improves communication and self-regulation over time.
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For adults in therapy or journaling — use the feelings list to identify emotions more precisely than general words like "bad" or "upset." More specific emotional vocabulary supports better self-understanding and communication with others.
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For conflict resolution — when discussing a disagreement identifying the specific emotion (e.g. "I felt dismissed" rather than "I was angry") leads to more productive conversations because it communicates the underlying need more clearly.
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For classroom and workplace use — feelings check-ins using a chart normalise emotional awareness in group settings. Starting a meeting or class with a brief feelings check-in builds psychological safety and improves engagement.
Feelings Wheel Interactive
Click any primary emotion below to expand into its secondary emotions and see a practical coping strategy. Use the Print Version button to generate a printable version for classrooms.
Click any emotion above to see secondary emotions and a coping strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the six basic universal emotions?
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified six universal basic emotions shared across cultures: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise. These emotions are expressed with consistent facial expressions across all human populations regardless of culture.
What is the difference between an emotion and a feeling?
In psychology emotions are considered the physiological and behavioural responses to a stimulus — they involve changes in the body such as heart rate and hormones. Feelings are the conscious subjective experience of those emotions — what the person is aware of and can describe.
What is a feelings chart used for?
A feelings chart is a visual reference tool that displays emotion words and sometimes corresponding facial expressions to help people — especially children — identify and name what they are experiencing. It builds emotional literacy and is widely used in therapy, classrooms, and social-emotional learning programmes.
How many emotions are there?
The number depends on the theoretical framework used. Ekman identified 6 universal basic emotions. Plutchik proposed 8 primary emotions. A 2017 study from UC Berkeley identified 27 distinct emotional states. No single count is universally agreed upon.
What is emotional literacy?
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, express, and manage emotions effectively. It is a core component of emotional intelligence and is associated with better mental health, more positive relationships, and higher academic and professional achievement.
What is the wheel of emotions?
The wheel of emotions (or Plutchik's wheel) is a visual diagram showing eight primary emotions arranged in a circle with opposing pairs across from each other and intensity increasing toward the centre. Adjacent emotions combine to form complex secondary emotions.
Why do children need feelings charts?
Young children experience strong emotions before they have the vocabulary to describe them — this mismatch often leads to tantrums, aggression, and withdrawal. Feelings charts give children a concrete reference to identify and communicate what they are experiencing which reduces frustration and supports emotional self-regulation.
What is the difference between feeling sad and feeling depressed?
Sadness is a normal emotion in response to loss, disappointment, or difficult circumstances — it is temporary and connected to a specific cause. Clinical depression is a mental health condition characterised by persistent low mood for 2 weeks or more that interferes with daily functioning and is not simply a response to circumstances.