Hi There !

I recently saw a professor on Book TV who said, "Anger is caused by
violated expectations.  But bitterness is slightly different. 
Bitterness results when one realizes an important dream cannot be
realized."

I don't know whether the professor is right or not.  That's not my question.

The professor got me interested in "simple" causes of everyday
emotions.  Here is a different example of several plausible
explanations for the same emotion.

Gratitude.  Is it caused by:

1.  Having lots of stuff?
2.  Having more than you expected?
3.  Absence of pain?
4.  Innate (genetic) predisposition?
5.  Feeling important and invincible?


I have no idea what the right answer is, but I'm sure some academic
somewhere has figured it all out...

A 5-star answer to my question would be a site that discusses 10 to 30
different emotions, perhaps ranging from joy to sadness, from
enthusiam to depression, from contentment to anger.  It would
hopefully be very simple and concise.  No PhD dissertations as I'm not
smart enough to read it all...

A great format would be something like this:

Anger---results when expectations are suddenly violated
Sadness---results from an irreplaceable loss
Depression---results from anger turned inward
Contentment---results from ...
Hope---results from...
Joy---results from...
Bitterness---results from...
Enthusiasm---results from...
Irritation---results from...


etc.
etc.


I'm a simple fan of simple psycho-babble.  All comments greatly appreciated !


Thanks.
ron

Howdy hi, Ron.

I have plowed through tons of psycho-babble, and I think I have found
just the right site for you.

Here's a snippet:

"Guilt = self-pity + self-hate.
 Pride = vanity + hatred of other people.

 Narcissism = love + vanity.
 Jealousy = love + self-pity.

 Resentment = guilt + idealism.
 Bitterness = pride + idealism

 Repentance = regret + guilt (mode of self-pity).
 Sadness = regret + jealousy (mode of self-pity).

 Paranoia = fear + pride (mode of vanity).
 Anxiety = fear + vanity...

 The motif of guilt and pride is punishment / humiliation 
 Guilt is self-punishment 
  self-pity mode implies life is punishment. 
  self-hate mode implies I deserve punishment. 
  
 Pride is punishment / humiliation of other people. 
  vanity mode implies you are inferior to me. 
  hate mode implies I despise you / I will punish you. 
  
 The motif of jealousy and narcissism is responsibility 
 Jealousy is social responsibility. 
  self-pity mode implies I need a reward (from other people). 
  love mode implies I reward other people..." 

...And there is a great deal more of the same. There are sub-headings
for these emotions:

Jealousy 
Guilt 
Pride 
Narcissism 
Love 
Hate 
Vanity 
Self-pity 
Envy 
Anxiety 

The article, by the British psychologist/philosopher Ian Heath, is
divided into these three sections:

The Nature of Emotion
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1em%20-%20emotions-1.htm

Characteristics of Emotions
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1em%20-%20emotions-2.htm

Identifying Emotions
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1em%20-%20emotions-3.htm

Check out also the five-part article on "Abreaction," which contains
similar material:

Abreaction
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1ab%20-%20abreactn-1.htm

The Laws of the Unconscious Mind
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1ab%20-%20abreactn-2.htm

Catharsis and Suggestion
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1ab%20-%20abreactn-2.htm

Resentment and Bitterness
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1ab%20-%20abreactn-4.htm

Forgiveness and Acceptance
http://website.lineone.net/~ian_heath2/1ab%20-%20abreactn-5.htm

I noodled around with several search strings before finding Ian
Heath's site. This was the keyword combination that led me to the
links above:

Google Web Search: "jealousy is" "anxiety is" "guilt is"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22jealousy+is%22+%22anxiety+is%22+%22guilt+is

I hope this is precisely what you were seeking. If I'm on the wrong
track, let me know, and I'll head off in a different direction,
hopefully without an excess of guilt, self-pity, and anxiety. ;-)

Best,
Pink

Dr. Freud, 

Concise + Useful = Outstanding Work On Your Part 

Exactly what I needed.  Thank you !!!!

ron

Ron,

Many thanks for the kind words, the five stars, and the tasty tip.

Great Customer + Interesting Subject = Enjoyable Research Project!

~Pink