Emotions vs Feelings what’s the Difference?

Emotions vs Feelings.

What’s the difference and similarity between Emotions and Feelings?

Emotions are more of physical sensations and reactions to stimulus and experiences around and within us.. Feelings on the other hand refers to the subjective experience we have as a result of emotions.

In neuroscience, one Joseph LeDoux claims that the brain’s alert center Amygdala releases hormones due to a trigger (such as an innate reaction to seeing a snake), but “then we elaborate it through cognitive and conscious processes”.

Mostly emotions are short lived eg; only last for 90 sec unless for rare cases like grief. Feelings however might live longer.

Worth noting however is that no all feelings include emotions eg; feeling of knowing.

Equally worth noting is the fact that the same emotion may trigger different feelings for it depends on one’s perception. Eg; an individual may feel frustration while another feel jealousy in response to an anger arousing experience..

Equally, it’s worth noting that emotions are more unconscious and automatic while feelings are more conscious and less automatic. We have more control over our feelings than our emotions.

Emotions are the sensations,, the feelings are the mental labels we used to define these sensations. Emotions originate from our bodily response, feelings originate from our mental labeling. If emotions are the alarm bells that announce what’s happening or a stimulus around us, feelings are the mental commentary trying to make sense of what’s happening.

To borrow words from neuroscientist Antonio Damasio; Our bodies react first (that’s emotion), before our minds create an experience from that reaction ( feelings).

For instance; Mary goes for a job interview and immediately she’s ushered in, she develops bodily responses such as sweaty palms and hearts which is definitely signs for fear emotions. 

She interprets it in other way however ie; I think I will flop which is a self doubt feeling.. or finally the day has arrived. (Excited anticipation). 

Mary has no control over the initial emotion, but she do have some control over how she can interpret them ie; in the feelings that follow.

Mary can interpret the same emotions differently. This means that feelings are more subjective based on Past Experiences and conditioning. Same emotional experiences, different interpretations.

This means that we can change or reframe how we interpret our emotions. Maybe the racing heart before a meeting can be , instead of being interpreted as a sign of anxiety, interpreted as an excited anticipation and energies us.

References

1. Allyn, R. (2022, February 23). The important difference between emotions and feelings. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-pleasure-is-all-yours/202202/the-important-difference-between-emotions-and-feelings

2. American Psychological Association. (2025, November 6). Emotions. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/emotions