Psychology The Base Emotions The Basic Emotions And Higher Emotions

Psychology, the Base Emotions, the Basic Emotions, and Higher Emotions By Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif © Copyright 2009 by Anthony J. Fejfar Some Psychologists, think wrongly, that all emotions are “good.” In fact, it is clear that this is not true. The Base Emotions are evil, The Basic Emotions are good, and the Higher Emotions are Good. The Base Emotions are mired in “Original Sin” and involve the Cardinal Vices of sloth, envy, gluttony, avarice, greed, lust, selfishness, and selfish love. The worst of these is selfish love which is clinging, grasping and controlling. Real love of the Basic Emotions is empowering and promotes autonomy, rational self-interest, self-actualization, and even self-transcendence. The Higher Emotions involve Intellectual Love, Compassion, and Unconditional Parental Love. Once a person begins to integrate the Higher Emotions, then the Base Emotions are transformed into the Basic Emotions. The Basic Emotions involve relational autonomy instead of love which is clinging, grasping, and controlling. The Base Emotions of selfishness, envy, avarice, and greed are transformed into appropriate, rational selfinterest. The Base Emotions of sloth in transformed into leisure. The Base Emotions of lust which is tantamount to rape, is transformed into genuine sexual love with empathy, pleasure, and compassion.

The Base Emotion of gluttony is transformed into

pleasurable eating. Psychologists commit malpractice when they do not distinguish in their practices between the Basic Emotions, Basic Emotions and Higher Emotions.