Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Ekman's universal emotions theory is a concept in psychology that suggests there are six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust) that are universally expressed and recognized across different cultures.