Utilizing an Emotional Compass: Understanding Its Purpose and Application

Utilizing an Emotional Compass: Understanding Its Concept and Application

Emotion wheels are visual aids designed to help individuals understand and process their emotions, providing a valuable tool for improving emotional intelligence. One of the most well-known emotion wheels is the Plutchik wheel, developed by psychologist Robert Plutchik.

The Plutchik wheel shows the complexity of emotions and helps identify them, breaking down eight core emotions into opposite pairs such as anger and fear, disgust and acceptance, joy and sadness, and expectation and surprise. Emotions listed closer to the outside of the wheel represent mild emotions, while those closer to the center represent more intense emotions.

Another popular emotion wheel is the Junto wheel, which offers a large array of emotions to choose from in a simple layout. The core, color-coded wedges of the Junto wheel include anger, love, joy, surprise, sadness, and fear. Emotions further out from the core of each wedge are more specific, such as jealousy stemming from anger and becoming resentful or envious.

The Geneva Wheel divides emotions into four sections or quadrants, and emotions are further divided based on the level of control one has over them. For instance, an example of a highly controllable emotion in the Geneva Wheel is pride. Emotions in the Geneva Wheel are also categorized as either pleasant or unpleasant.

When using an emotion wheel, start by identifying the emotion closest to how you are feeling. Try to figure out the trigger, analyze connections between emotions, and make changes or take other action based on your understanding. This exercise can help come up with better coping skills and responses to negative emotions.

Moreover, emotion wheels serve as visual guides to help children recognise emotions. Psych Central's resource page offers more tips on helping children identify emotions. Using an emotion wheel can help improve emotional intelligence, identify root causes of emotions, see how different emotions connect, and find new ways to cope with emotions.

In conclusion, different emotion wheels exist, but they share similar qualities and can help one start to develop stronger emotional literacy as they start to name their emotions and trace their roots. By understanding our emotions better, we can navigate through life with greater self-awareness and emotional resilience.