Understanding Emotion Analysis

Emotion Analysis is a Natural Language Processing technique that identifies the emotional expressions found in text. Bellomy follows the Puttick’s Emotion model which classifies emotions into 8 core emotions and 24 granular emotions.

Motivation and emotion/Book/2014/Plutchik's wheel of emotions - Wikiversity

The 8 core emotions are defined below.

Anger

Anger is an intense emotional state involving a strong uncomfortable and hostile response to a perceived provocation, hurt or threat. (1)

Three types of “anger” are recognized by psychologists (2)

(1)    Hasty and sudden anger is connected to the impulse for self-preservation.

(2)    Settled and deliberate anger is a reaction to perceived deliberate harm or unfair treatment by others.

(3)    Dispositional anger is related more to character traits than to instincts or cognitions. Such as irritability, sullenness, and churlishness.

Emotional continuum range:

  • Annoyance
  • Rage

Anticipation

Anticipation is an emotion involving pleasure or anxiety in considering or awaiting an expected event. It’s a prior action that takes into account or forestalls a later action. (3)

Emotional continuum range:

  • Interest
  • Vigilance

Disgust

Disgust is an emotional response of rejection or revulsion to something potentially contagious or something considered offensive, distasteful, or unpleasant. (4)

Emotional continuum range:

  • Boredom
  • Loathing

Fear

Fear is an emotion induced by perceived danger or threat, which causes physiological changes and ultimately behavioral changes, such as fleeing, hiding, or freezing from perceived traumatic events.

Fear in human beings may occur in response to a certain stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to oneself. (5)

Emotional continuum range:

  • Apprehension
  • Terror

Joy

Joy means a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. (6)

Emotional continuum range:

  • Serenity
  • Ecstasy

Sadness

Sadness is an emotional pain associated with or characterized by, feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, grief, helplessness, disappointment, and sorrow.

An individual experiencing sadness may become quiet or lethargic and withdraw themselves from others. (7)

Emotional continuum range:

  • Pensiveness
  • Grief

Surprise

Surprise is a brief physiological state as the results of an unexpected event, it can be neutral/moderate, pleasant, unpleasant, positive, or negative and can vary in its intensity range from a fight-or-flight response, or it can elicit a less intense response.

Emotional continuum range:

  • Distraction
  • Amazement

Trust

Trust is a set of behaviors, acting in ways that each depend on another.

Trust is a belief in a probability that a person will behave in certain ways, that someone is dependable, a feeling of confidence and security in a partner that cares.

Emotional continuum range:

  • Acceptance
  • Admiration

How are Emotions Assigned?

At the basic level, emotions are determined by looking for keywords and phrases in the text. Beyond this simple approach, the AI learns additional patterns and applies those. 

The table below identifies a definition of terms that are commonly associated with each emotion. 

ANGERAnnoyanceTo disturb or irritate by continued or repeated acts. Aggravation is caused by circumstances that frustrate and annoy.
MidlineDispleasure that causes individuals to plan to take action.
RageFurious, using words that depict extreme anger and negative emotion.
ANTICIPATIONInterestExamining a thought, a product, or asking a question. Phrasing depicts hope toward the future.
MidlineInvolves pleasure, anxiously awaiting an expected event.
VigilanceSustained concentration over prolonged periods of time, actively waiting.
JOYSerenityQuality of being calm, comfortable, or tranquil. Chill.
MidlinePleasant state, feelings of contentment, gratification, and satisfaction. A general sense of happiness is marked by enjoyment. Expressing a moderate degree of enthusiasm.
EcstacyIntense and all-encompassing sense of joy or extreme happiness.
TRUSTAcceptanceThe feeling of acceptance is based on perceived effort.
MidlineThe feeling of belonging, consistency, and reliability, a sense of strength and stability. Exhibiting personalization which leads to a sense of relationship and dependability.
AdmirationExhibiting a feeling of respect and approval. Deep affection and appreciation.
FEARApprehensionThe feeling of nervousness or paranoia. Slight fear of a potential threat.
MidlineModerate fear that goes beyond nervousness, but is not as extreme as terror.
TerrorAn unexpected sudden event that catches someone off-guard.
SURPRISEDistractionUnexpected sudden event that catches someone off-guard.
MidlinePleasantly surprised in a pleasing way that will stand out in a person’s memories.
AmazementOverwhelmingly surprised and stunned. Wowed by circumstances.
SADNESSPensivenessDreamily or wistfully thoughtful. A pensive mood, expressing or revealing thoughtfulness.
MidlineIndicative of loss and helplessness. Accompanied by an implicit tendency to alleviate its effect by seeking rewarding experiences.
GriefAn overwhelming sense of sadness, sometimes caused by irritation over a long period of time.
DISGUSTBoredomAbsolutely no interest. Expressing feelings of apathy or listlessness. This emotion can turn into anger-annoyance if experienced over a long period of time.
MidlineIntense dislike, indirect aggression. A feeling of aversion towards something that is perceived as offensive typically causes someone to avoid or distance themselves from the object or situation.
LoathingLong-term response to something that seems to simmer, causing an overwhelming sense of revulsion to something considered unpleasant or offensive. Generally involves a feeling of helplessness, causing someone to feel like there is nothing they can do to resolve the issue/situation.