Using a keyboard or screen reader? The List view gives you every word as a button.
The seven basic emotions are the headings. Under each one, a milder word comes first, then a stronger word. Select as many words as you like.
Higher energy
Lower energy
Pleasant surprise
Unpleasant surprise
My words0
Tap a word on the wheel and it will appear here.
Some of these words can feel heavy. You do not have to hold this alone. If you feel unsafe, contact your GP, your local emergency number or 112. More about getting help.
Synthesised and designed by Ioana Ababei (MSc Psychologist)
This affect wheel is inspired by emotion research. Its base combines the circumplex model of affect (Russell, 1980) with the seven basic emotions (Ekman & Cordaro, 2011), completed with milder and stronger forms of affect (Ekman & Ekman, 2016; Fredrickson, 2013; Menninghaus et al., 2015; Mobbs, 2020; Plutchik, 2001; Silvia, 2010; Watson & Clark, 1994; Willcox, 1982).
In total, the wheel contains 135 words that describe emotions, moods and states. Of these, 117 have a reference in the literature. The other 18 are reference free and inspired by lived experience.
Need help now?
If you feel unsafe, or you are going through a mental health crisis, please reach out straight away to your GP, your local emergency number or 112. You do not have to face this alone.
If you are looking for a space to be authentic and meet yourself with compassion, you are welcome to get in touch. I offer psychological counselling at ioanaababei.com/connect (opens in a new tab).
References
- Ekman, P., & Cordaro, D. (2011). What is meant by calling emotions basic. Emotion Review, 3(4), 364-370. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073911410740
- Ekman, P., & Ekman, E. (2016). Atlas of emotions. Paul Ekman Group. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://atlasofemotions.org
- Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positive emotions broaden and build. In Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 47, pp. 1-53). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-407236-7.00001-2
- Menninghaus, W., Wagner, V., Hanich, J., Wassiliwizky, E., Kuehnast, M., & Jacobsen, T. (2015). Towards a psychological construct of being moved. PloS one, 10(6), e0128451. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128451
- Mobbs, A. E. (2020). An atlas of personality, emotion and behaviour. PloS one, 15(1), e0227877. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227877
- Plutchik, R. (2001). Integration, differentiation, and derivatives of emotion. Evolution and Cognition, 7(2). Free PDF
- Russell, J. A. (1980). A circumplex model of affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39(6), 1161-1178. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077714
- Silvia, P. J. (2010). Confusion and interest: The role of knowledge emotions in aesthetic experience. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 4(2), 75–80. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017081
- Watson, D., & Clark, L. A. (1994). The PANAS-X: Manual for the positive and negative affect schedule-expanded form. https://doi.org/10.17077/48vt-m4t2
- Willcox, G. (1982). The Feeling Wheel: A tool for expanding awareness of emotions and increasing spontaneity and intimacy. Transactional Analysis Journal, 12(4), 274-276. https://doi.org/10.1177/036215378201200411