Humans Have 27 Different Kinds Of Emotions, While We're Still Struggling To Describe Our Feelings

As I write this, I'm trying to come to terms with my feelings. No, really. I don't know if I'm sad, disappointed, frustrated, vulnerable, smitten, confused… you see where I'm going with this, right? In case you don't know, neither do I. According to new research published in the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, human beings have as many as 27 different types of emotions. They are as follows… Admiration . Adoration . Aesthetic appreciation . Amusement . Anxiety . Awe . Awkwardness . Boredom . Calmness . Confusion . Craving . Disgust . Empathetic pain . Entrancement . Envy . Excitement . Fear . Horror . Interest . Joy . Nostalgia . Romance . Sadness . Satisfaction . Sexual desire . Sympathy . Triumph © Pexels The study had researchers use around 2,185 different short video clips to try to elicit a spectrum of emotions, reports Psychology Today. The videos ranged from a kitten pouncing on a dog to a slow high-five, a woman running into traffic, and dancing Oompa Loompas. The participants were asked to rate these videos among 34 different emotional categories and on a scale of 1 to 9, across different dimensions like positive versus negative, excitement versus calmness. © Pexels Through the results of the participants, the study identified 27 of the 34 as relevant categories of emotions amongst human beings. Furthermore, researchers observed that most of these emotions were felt by the participants over a gradient, and not distinctly or clearly. The test is actually available for anyone to take online. All you have to do is take a look at the video clips offered on this interactive map. The map also shows the majority of the emotions experienced by participants on the top of the map. So far, the breakdown is 31% Amusement + 23% Awkwardness + 15% Confusion + 15% Sympathy + 8% Admiration + 8% Anger + 8% Disappointment + 8% Disgust + 8% Empathic Pain + 8% Interest + 8% Joy + 8% Relief + 8% Sadness. © Pexels You can then, compare your own reactions with those found from the results of the survey. It could be a fun way to determine one's emotional range. And at the very least, if anyone of you has been feeling as confused as I have been feeling, maybe—just, maybe—this test will be some sort of respite and clarity into how and what we actually feel, no? Let's hope so because otherwise, I may have the emotional range of a unicorn and still not know how I'm feeling and that, quite frankly is no good right now. So, help me God! © Pexels