Emotions and Feelings: Their Slight Variations

The current state of knowledge about the distinction between emotions and feelings is polarized and people usually tend to mix the two, especially in the English language.

The term ‘affect’ has become the favourite term in neuroscientific and psychological literature speaking of the cognitive and social neurosciences, when reference is made to emotional and/or felt states.

The terms ‘emotions’ and ‘feelings’ are, however, the ones that are deeply rooted in the usage in the English language and are, we suggest, the terms that are most likely to be used in EQ coaching settings even if the social neurosciences choose to obfuscate the distinction.

In consequence, let us support the proposition that the terms ‘emotion(s)’ and ‘feeling(s)’ need a (neuro-)operational clarity for us in clarifying neurobehavioural ramifications. Moreover, it should be stated that both of the above have the possibility of being suppressed in the process of interpersonal interactions, nonetheless, obviously very strong emotions and feelings have the clear potential of being exhibited in communication, also in corporate life.

In fact, both of them have important existential significance in our lives. As Damasio (1999) has so adroitly pointed out, if reason makes the lists but emotion makes the decisions, then the integration of thinking and feeling becomes a key area for the development of effective executive functioning.

Thence, we can come to think that emotions are our 'rationalized' feelings. To put it into other words, when we can make sense of our internal states, we speak of emotions, not feelings. Besides, it is also noteworthy that emotions mostly help us make decisions, nonetheless feelings have also the potential to intermingle in the decision-making process.

Emotions are actually a compass that guides us in our lives and directs us towards taking action. Emotional reactions to external stimuli are the result of a complex interaction between sensory stimuli, brain circuitry, past experiences, preferences, predispositions, and the activity of neurotransmitter systems, all though happen on the subconscious level.

It is also worth mentioning that 'rationality' and 'emotionality' are involved in dealing with 'emotions' and 'feelings' in terms of emotions stirring up and the rational mind vetoing or endorsing certain emotions, which can transform into feelings, which are the basis of our interpersonal relations, both in our private lives and in business.

Damasio (2003) also makes a robust distinction between emotions and feelings but in terms of precedence. ‘… in our attempt to understand the complex chain of events that begins with emotion and ends up with feelings, we can be helped by a principle separation between the part of the process that is made public and the part that remains private'.

It follows from the above that the two phenomena are very tightly intertwined but have separate functions that help us function and operate in this world and build long-lasting relations.