ABSTRACT
This group of compelling emotions is unique because rather than moving us toward an outcome or energizing some specific action, they move us away from further activity and are often felt as debilitating, as de-energizing. In this category are feeling states such as sadness, sorrow, and most notably, depression. Unique to these emotions is the relative lack of activity that they inspire. To be sure, one may be very animated when in the throes of sorrow, yet the activity is often nondirected and limited, generally, to simple cries for reassurance and support during a very difficult time of profound loss. These feeling states are associated with periods of withdrawal from regular activities and typically involve reflective thoughts related to the source of loss that the individual is facing.
