Feeling vs. Emotion — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 14, 2023
Feeling is a conscious subjective experience, often tied to a specific event; Emotion is a complex psychological state, usually more intense and short-lived.
Difference Between Feeling and Emotion
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Feeling is a broad term, encompassing various conscious experiences. It can be the result of an emotion or a physical sensation. Emotion, on the other hand, represents intense psychological states, like joy, sadness, anger, and fear, often triggered by specific events or thoughts.
When someone says they have a feeling, it can be a vague sense or intuition about something, not necessarily tied to a strong emotional response. Emotion, however, is more precise and generally indicates a clear, often strong, reaction to stimuli. Emotions typically lead to physical reactions in the body, like a racing heart or tears.
Feelings are often longer-lasting and can be more complex than emotions. One can have feelings about a situation or person that span a range of emotions, while an emotion is generally a singular, intense response to a specific trigger. For instance, love is a feeling that can encompass a variety of emotions, from happiness to jealousy.
In the world of psychology, feelings are generally considered the conscious subjective experience of emotions. To put it another way, emotions are the initial response, and feelings are the reflection upon those responses. For example, when faced with a threatening situation, one might experience the emotion of fear. Reflecting upon this, they might feel vulnerable or anxious.
Finally, emotions are universal and shared across all human cultures. They can be recognized universally, like seeing someone cry and understanding they're sad. Feelings, being subjective, are individualized. Two people can feel differently about the same emotion or situation.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Conscious subjective experience
Complex psychological state
Duration
Often longer-lasting
Typically short-lived and intense
Complexity
Can encompass a range of emotions
Singular, specific response to a trigger
Physical Response
Not always present
Often leads to physical reactions
Universality
Subjective and individualized
Universal and recognizable across cultures
Compare with Definitions
Feeling
A physical sensation distinct from an emotion.
He felt a sharp feeling of pain in his leg.
Emotion
Emotions are biologically-based psychological states brought on by neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioural responses, and a degree of pleasure or displeasure. There is currently no scientific consensus on a definition.
Feeling
Feeling was originally used to describe the physical sensation of touch through either experience or perception. The word is also used to describe other experiences, such as "a feeling of warmth" and of sentience in general.
Emotion
A mental state that arises spontaneously rather than through conscious effort and is often accompanied by physiological changes; a feeling
The emotions of joy, sorrow, and anger.
Feeling
An emotional state or reaction
A feeling of joy
Emotion
Such mental states or the qualities that are associated with them, especially in contrast to reason
A decision based on emotion rather than logic.
Feeling
An idea or belief, especially a vague or irrational one
He had the feeling that he was being watched
Emotion
(obsolete) movement; agitation. 18
Feeling
The capacity to experience the sense of touch
A loss of feeling in the hands
Emotion
A person's internal state of being and involuntary physiological response to an object or a situation, based on or tied to physical state and sensory data.
Feeling
A sensitivity to or intuitive understanding of
She says I have a feeling for medicine
Emotion
A reaction by a non-human organism with behavioral and physiological elements similar to a person's response.
Feeling
Showing emotion or sensitivity
She was a feeling child
Emotion
A moving of the mind or soul; excitement of the feelings, whether pleasing or painful; disturbance or agitation of mind caused by a specific exciting cause and manifested by some sensible effect on the body.
How different the emotions between departure and return!
Some vague emotion of delight.
Feeling
The sense of touch
Lost feeling in a toe.
Emotion
Any strong feeling
Feeling
A sensation experienced through this sense
Enjoyed the feeling of rain on my face.
Feeling
A physical sensation other than one experienced though touch
A feeling of warmth.
Feeling
An emotion, such as joy or sorrow
A feeling of loss.
Feeling
Strong mental agitation or excitement involving the emotions
Eyes that showed deep feeling.
Feeling
An emotion of affection; a fondness
Does she have feelings for you?.
Feeling
The capacity to experience refined emotions; sensitivity; sensibility
A man of feeling.
Feeling
Feelings Susceptibility to emotional response; sensibilities
The child's feelings are easily hurt.
Feeling
An awareness or impression
He had the feeling that he was being followed.
Feeling
An opinion based strongly on emotion; sentiment
Voters' feelings on tax reform.
Feeling
A general impression conveyed by a person, place, or thing
This office has the feeling of a fortress.
Feeling
The emotions thought to be conveyed or intended by a work of art
The painting's feeling of anguish.
Feeling
Appreciative regard or understanding
Has no feeling for propriety.
Feeling
Intuitive awareness or aptitude; a feel
Has a feeling for language.
Feeling
Easily moved emotionally; sympathetic
A feeling heart.
Feeling
Expressive of sensibility or emotion
A feeling glance.
Feeling
Emotionally sensitive.
Despite the rough voice, the coach is surprisingly feeling.
Feeling
Expressive of great sensibility; attended by, or evincing, sensibility.
He made a feeling representation of his wrongs.
Feeling
Sensation, particularly through the skin.
The wool on my arm produced a strange feeling.
Feeling
Emotion; impression.
The house gave me a feeling of dread.
Feeling
Emotional state or well-being.
You really hurt my feelings when you said that.
Feeling
Emotional attraction or desire.
Many people still have feelings for their first love.
Feeling
Intuition.
He has no feeling for what he can say to somebody in such a fragile emotional condition.
I've got a funny feeling that this isn't going to work.
Feeling
An opinion, an attitude.
Feeling
Present participle of feel
Feeling
Possessing great sensibility; easily affected or moved; as, a feeling heart.
Feeling
Expressive of great sensibility; attended by, or evincing, sensibility; as, he made a feeling representation of his wrongs.
Feeling
The sense by which the mind, through certain nerves of the body, perceives external objects, or certain states of the body itself; that one of the five senses which resides in the general nerves of sensation distributed over the body, especially in its surface; the sense of touch; nervous sensibility to external objects.
Why was the sightTo such a tender ball as the eye confined, . . . And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused?
Feeling
An act or state of perception by the sense above described; an act of apprehending any object whatever; an act or state of apprehending the state of the soul itself; consciousness.
The apprehension of the goodGives but the greater feeling to the worse.
Feeling
The capacity of the soul for emotional states; a high degree of susceptibility to emotions or states of the sensibility not dependent on the body; as, a man of feeling; a man destitute of feeling.
Feeling
Any state or condition of emotion; the exercise of the capacity for emotion; any mental state whatever; as, a right or a wrong feeling in the heart; our angry or kindly feelings; a feeling of pride or of humility.
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind.
Tenderness for the feelings of others.
Feeling
That quality of a work of art which embodies the mental emotion of the artist, and is calculated to affect similarly the spectator.
Feeling
The experiencing of affective and emotional states;
She had a feeling of euphoria
He had terrible feelings of guilt
I disliked him and the feeling was mutual
Feeling
A vague idea in which some confidence is placed;
His impression of her was favorable
What are your feelings about the crisis?
It strengthened my belief in his sincerity
I had a feeling that she was lying
Feeling
The general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people;
The feel of the city excited him
A clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
It had the smell of treason
Feeling
A physical sensation that you experience;
He had a queasy feeling
I had a strange feeling in my leg
He lost all feeling in his arm
Feeling
The sensation produced by pressure receptors in the skin;
She likes the touch of silk on her skin
The surface had a greasy feeling
Feeling
An intuitive understanding of something;
He had a great feeling for music
Feeling
A conscious subjective experience.
I had a feeling of unease in the unfamiliar place.
Feeling
An intuition or vague sense about something.
She had a feeling he wasn't telling the whole truth.
Feeling
An emotional state or reaction.
The news left him with a mixed feeling of joy and sadness.
Feeling
A belief or sentiment.
She expressed her strong feelings about the issue.
Common Curiosities
How is Emotion different from Feeling?
Emotion is a complex psychological state, while feeling is the conscious experience of such emotions.
Can two people have the same Emotion but different Feelings?
Yes, emotions are universal, but feelings are subjective and can vary among individuals.
Which lasts longer, Feeling or Emotion?
Feelings often last longer, while emotions are typically intense and short-lived.
What is a Feeling?
Feeling is a conscious subjective experience, often tied to emotions or physical sensations.
Are Feelings always tied to Emotions?
Not always; feelings can also stem from physical sensations or intuitions.
How are Emotions tied to physical responses?
Emotions can cause physical reactions, like a racing heart, sweating, or tears.
Are there good or bad Feelings?
All feelings are valid; labeling them as good or bad can hinder understanding and processing.
Is it possible to control our Emotions?
While it's challenging, with practice, one can manage their reactions to emotions.
Do all cultures experience Emotions the same way?
Emotions are universal, but cultural differences can influence how they're expressed or understood.
Is every Feeling tied to a specific event?
No, feelings can be general or vague, not always tied to a distinct event.
How are Emotions and Feelings related to mental health?
Understanding and managing emotions and feelings are crucial for mental well-being.
What's the role of Emotion in decision-making?
Emotions can influence our decisions, sometimes leading to impulsive choices.
Why are Feelings important?
Feelings help us understand and process our experiences and guide our reactions and decisions.
How can one express Feelings in a healthy way?
Communication, artistic expression, and self-reflection are healthy ways to express feelings.
Why are Emotions essential in human interactions?
Emotions enhance human connection, empathy, and understanding among individuals.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
