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The theory of Emotion Language is predicated on 3 axioms:
Human needs and emotions are both universal and discrete.
Each emotion arises from a corresponding lack.
The function of emotions is to communicate the status of our needs to ourselves and each other.
Emotion Language identifies 5 manifest needs and 3 latent needs as well as their corresponding emotions:
Homeostasis : : Distress
Membership : : Shame
Intimacy : : Loneliness
Expression : : Frustration
Stimulation : : Boredom
Coherence : : Confusion
Order : : Indignation
Security : : Fear
Emotion Language identifies anxiety, despair, and anger as composite emotions, and happiness as the null emotion.
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Homeostasis is the automatic and internal regulation of chemical processes within the body. This includes all processes necessary to sustain life at the tissue, organ, and organism level.
While we can neither sense nor influence these processes directly, we are responsible for providing the resources and environment for our bodies to function and thrive.
These responsibilities include nourishment, elimination, and respiration, as well as the diligence necessary to protect the structural integrity and immunological resilience of our bodies.
A lack of homeostasis results in distress- the emotional state which often accompanies hunger, pain, and pressure.
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Membership is the quality of belonging to a group. Social groups vary greatly in size, structure, and function. Examples include, but are not limited to, family groups, peer groups, domestic groups, workplace families, associations, schoolmates, and communities.
Membership is characterized by the individual’s role within the group and their relationship to the other members of the group. Bonds between individuals are predicated on a mutual understanding of value.
A lack of membership results in shame - the emotional state which often accompanies a sense of worthlessness, guilt, embarrassment, or dishonor.
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Intimacy is a state of mutual vulnerability and trust. Intimacy can be evaluated along the following axes:
Intellectual intimacy involves an open exchange of thoughts and ideas. Language serves as the default conduit, but ideas are often represented visually through artwork, diagrams, or graphics.
Emotional intimacy involves an open exchange of feelings and affections. Nonverbal communication takes priority over language in this domain, but the visual and auditory arts provide invaluable mediums as well.
Physical intimacy involves an open exchange of touches and movement. The body itself is the medium of communication. Forms include hugging, kissing, cuddling, massaging, petting, and grooming, as well as all manner of sexual activities.
A lack of intimacy results in loneliness - the emotional state which often accompanies heartbreak, grief, isolation, or longing.
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Expression is the articulation and execution of will. Expression can be evaluated along the following axes:
Abstract expression communicates thoughts and ideas. It may be symbolic, representational, or performative, but it is inherent to any use of language.
Affective expression communicates emotions and feelings. While emotion itself communicates the needs of the individual, affective expression communicates the individual’s subjective experience of emotion.
Kinesthetic expression communicates intention and impulse. It may be premeditated, coordinated, reactive, or instinctual, but it always takes the form of physical movement.
A lack of expression results in frustration - the emotional state which often accompanies impotence, impatience, impedance, and annoyance.
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Stimulation is the reception of information via the nervous system. Stimulation can be evaluated along the following axes:
Cognitive stimulation provokes thought through engagement with ideas via intellectual intimacy or the products of abstract expression.
Empathic stimulation arouses emotion through engagement with feelings via emotional intimacy or the products of affective expression.
Sensory stimulation produces sensations through engagement with the visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory senses via physical intimacy or environmental effects.
Introspection and meditation provide an internal means of regulating cognitive and empathic stimulation, while self-stimulation of the tactile, visual, auditory, interoceptive, proprioceptive, and vestibular organs provide a means of regulating sensory stimulation. Reflexive forms of stimulation serve as feedback which can help to achieve stability and balance, but they are insufficient on their own. A lack of stimulation results in boredom - the emotional state which often accompanies apathy, disinterest, languor, tedium, and ennui.
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Coherence is the quality of continuity of latent cognitive models. Coherence is disturbed when cognitive models are unable to adapt to new information. This may occur if new information challenges existing beliefs or if there is simply too much information to process, and it is restored when the model has been reconfigured, erroneous information has been corrected, and/or excess information has been processed. Coherence is related to the previously described needs as in the following examples:
Homeostasis - Interoceptive signals are misaligned with my expectations and understanding of my body. “I’m hungry even though I just ate / My arm hurts but I don’t remember bumping into anything / I’m suddenly very tired even though I haven’t exerted myself.”
Membership - My role within the group is ambiguous or ambivalent. “I’m not sure what it means to ‘be a man’ these days / Since the teams were merged, I’m not sure what my responsibilities are / I’m not sure how active I should be in my step-children’s lives.”
Intimacy - The status of our relationship is unstable or poorly defined. “I thought it was ok to talk about this with you / I thought you would have told me about this / I thought you wanted me to touch you in this way.”
Expression - The process I’ve initiated to actualize my intention is unexpectedly ineffective. “I don’t know why this isn’t working.”
Stimulation forms the basis of coherence because all information is ultimately derived from the senses.
Cognitive Stimulation - I do not know how to integrate this information with my current knowledge.
Empathic Stimulation - I don’t understand what they are feeling.
Sensory Stimulation - My internal model of my environment is incongruent with the information that my senses have collected about my environment.
A lack of coherence results in confusion - the emotional state which often accompanies bewilderment, confoundment, and disorientation.
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