The Plutchik Model

The model shown on our web site is based on Robert Plutchik's psychoevolutionary theory of emotions.

We are drawn to Plutchik's circumplex model of emotions because we find his visual articulation of the relationship of different emotions compelling and nuanced. Plutchik first proposed his cone-shaped model in 1958 to describe how emotions were related.

He suggested 8 primary bipolar emotions: joy versus sorrow; anger versus fear; acceptance versus disgust; and surprise versus expectancy. Additionally, his circumplex model makes connections between the idea of an emotion circle and a color wheel. Like colors, primary emotions can be expressed at different intensities and can mix with one another to form different emotions. The circumplex model that we use on our website is actually seen as a cross-section of a three-dimensional cone shaped model of emotions.

References
Plutchik, Robert, Emotions and Life: Perspectives from Psychology, Biology, and Evolution, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2002.
Plutchik, Robert and Hope R. Conte. Circumplex Models of Personality and Emotions. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1997.

Return to the Emotions Page