Emotions: Some Historical Observations

Historical studies of emotions have much to add to the lively interest in emotions today. This article problematizes the currently popular notion of "basic emotions," shows how the history of past theories offers new ways to think about the category "emotions" and the items that populate it, and offers a methodology for approaching the emotions through the lens of "emotional communities" (the groups in which people live and feel). It concludes by suggesting how historians and scientists may work together to further our understanding of emotions.