Emotion, Sentiment and Feeling

In English, the terms “emotion,” “sentiment,” and “feeling” are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, but they have distinct meanings in academic and psychological contexts.

Emotion
Definition: An emotion is a complex, subjective experience that arises in response to a specific event or situation. It involves a combination of physical sensations, behavioral responses, and cognitive appraisals.

Characteristics: Emotions are often intense and immediate, involving a quick onset and a relatively short duration. They can trigger both physical reactions (like increased heart rate) and behavioral responses (like smiling or crying).

Duration: Typically brief to moderate, lasting from a few seconds to several minutes. Trigger: Immediate and specific events or situations.

Sentiment
Definition: Sentiment refers to a general attitude or feeling, often long-standing, that someone holds towards a particular subject, person, or thing. It is a less intense but more stable evaluation of something.

Characteristics: Sentiments are generally more stable and enduring than emotions. They are less likely to change rapidly and can persist over long periods of time.
Duration: Long-term, potentially lasting for days, months, or even years.

Trigger: Sentiments can be influenced by multiple factors over time, including experiences, beliefs, and cultural influences.

Feeling
Definition: A feeling is a subjective experience that may be the result of an emotion but can also be influenced by thoughts, memories, and interpretations of events. It is the conscious awareness of an emotional state.

Characteristics: Feelings are internal and subjective, often described as the “felt sense” of an emotion or mood. They can be more nuanced and complex than the immediate experience of an emotion.

Duration: Can be long-lasting, often depending on the persistence of the underlying emotional state or the continuous influence of thoughts and memories. Trigger: Feelings can be triggered by emotions but are also shaped by cognitive processes and personal history.

So in games, what we directly experience is Emotion, which may gradually turn into sentiment over time.

Repetitive Experiences: If a person repeatedly experiences the same or similar emotions in response to a particular situation or entity, these emotions can consolidate into a stable sentiment. For example, if every time someone uses a particular brand of software, they feel frustrated due to its complex interface, this repeated frustration can turn into a negative sentiment towards that brand.

Memory and Reflection: Emotions that are particularly strong or meaningful tend to leave a lasting impression in our memory. When we reflect on past experiences, these recalled emotions can contribute to the formation of sentiments. For instance, remembering the joy of playing a certain video game with friends might foster a positive sentiment toward that game.

Cognitive Processing: Over time, people often engage in cognitive processing of their emotional experiences, leading to a more stable evaluation or attitude. This process can involve rationalizing, interpreting, and integrating emotions into a coherent belief system, which then forms the basis of sentiments.

Social and Cultural Influences: Sentiments can also be shaped by social and cultural norms. If an individual is part of a community that predominantly expresses a certain emotion towards an event or concept (e.g., patriotism for a country), this can influence the individual to adopt a corresponding sentiment.

Personal Values and Beliefs: Our personal values and beliefs can act as filters through which emotions are interpreted and transformed into sentiments. For example, a person who values environmental conservation might feel anger at the sight of pollution, which could lead to a long-term negative sentiment toward polluting industries.

It’s important to note that while emotions can lead to sentiments, the reverse is also true—sentiments can influence the emotions we experience in specific situations. For example, you might experience emotional resonance while playing a certain game, and this resonance does not solely stem from the game itself in the present moment, but rather from your sentiment.

Video games abound with excellent emotional delivery titles, and let’s delve into one of them with a brief analysis.

Journey is an indie adventure game developed by Thatgame Company. Known for its unique aesthetics, evocative music, and innovative narrative style that eschews traditional dialogue, the game guides players through a series of emotional highs and lows. Here’s the emotional arc:

Beginning Phase: Solitude and Curiosity The game opens with the player controlling a robed figure in the midst of a vast desert, seemingly alone. The ambient music sets a tone of solitude and invites the player to explore out of curiosity. At this stage, the emotional baseline is one of isolation and intrigue, which spurs the player’s desire to uncover the mysteries of the world around them.

Rising Action: Discovery and Companionship As the game progresses, the traveler encounters remnants of an ancient civilization, slowly unveiling its secrets. The music swells in intensity as the environment transforms from desert to snow, from caves to towering structures. Most significantly, the player might meet another traveler (controlled by another online player), and despite no verbal communication, they can journey together, understanding each other through actions and sounds. This phase of the emotional curve ascends from loneliness to the joy of companionship and collaboration.

Climax: Struggle and Sacrifice The climax occurs when the player and their companion ascend a treacherous mountain. Challenges such as storms, cold, and arduous climbing test the players, requiring mutual support as the cloak’s power meter depletes. If the companion “dies” along the way, the player experiences loss and the determination to carry on. The music reaches its peak here, expressing the interplay of struggle and hope.

Falling Action: Reflection and Renewal Upon reaching the mountaintop, the player undergoes a ritualistic rebirth; the cloak is restored, and the music becomes serene and dignified. This stage is one of reflection and meditation, allowing the player to contemplate the journey and ponder the meaning of life. The emotional curve descends here, moving from tension and challenge to tranquility and inner peace.

Resolution: Fulfillment and Release Finally, the player arrives at the end, experiencing a visually stunning finale where the story of the journey is revealed through murals and symbols. At the game’s conclusion, the names of all the players who accompanied you during your travels appear, even though you never exchanged words. This final phase is characterized by satisfaction and closure; the player feels both content with the completion of the journey and a touch of nostalgia for its end.

Through its meticulous design, Journey allows players to experience a profound emotional journey without the need for spoken or written dialogue. The game’s emotional curve not only enhances immersion but also makes Journey a memorable and deeply touching gaming experience.