Emotions vs. Feelings

Although often used interchangeably, emotions and feelings are distinct psychological constructs. Emotions are automatic, unconscious bodily responses to internal or external events, such as facial expressions or changes in heart rate, and tend to be short-lived and universal across cultures. In contrast, feelings are the conscious, subjective interpretations of those emotions. They are longer-lasting, shaped by personal experience and culture, and primarily measured through self-reports. While emotions happen to us, feelings are shaped by how we interpret them.

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