About these examples: This guide provides concrete examples for each emotion across the full intensity spectrum (0-100). Use these examples to understand how emotional intensity translates to real-world experiences when building your stories. Select an emotion below to see both positive (increasing) and negative (decreasing) examples side by side.
Admiration
Positive (Increasing Admiration)
0–5:
Noticing a stranger's tidy handwriting.
5–10:
Impressed by a coworker's organized desk.
10–20:
Watching a peer give a solid, professional presentation.
20–40:
Seeing an athlete break a personal record through grit.
40–60:
Witnessing someone risk their own safety for a stranger.
60–100:
Meeting a personal hero who exceeds every expectation.
Negative (Loss of Respect)
0–5:
Noticing a small, lazy shortcut a mentor took.
5–10:
Realizing a local "hero" is actually quite rude in person.
10–20:
Finding out a peer plagiarized a small part of their work.
20–40:
Watching someone you respected act with cowardice in a crisis.
40–60:
Discovering your personal idol is a total fraud.
60–100:
Total collapse of respect for a parent or mentor after a betrayal.
Adoration
Positive (Increasing Adoration)
0–5:
A brief, warm thought about a pet while at work.
5–10:
Smiling at a photo of a niece or nephew.
10–20:
Watching your partner sleep peacefully.
20–40:
A child saying "I love you" for the very first time.
40–60:
Holding your newborn baby for the first time.
60–100:
The lifelong, soul-deep bond with a lifelong partner.
Negative (Waning Love)
0–5:
A minor pet peeve about a partner starts to grate.
5–10:
Feeling "bored" while looking at a photo of a loved one.
10–20:
Realizing the "spark" is missing during a quiet moment.
20–40:
Feeling a cold distance from a child or spouse during an argument.
40–60:
Realizing you no longer love someone you once worshipped.
60–100:
The complete "death" of affection after years of emotional abuse.
Aesthetic Appreciation
Positive (Increasing Appreciation)
0–5:
Noticing a nice color palette on a website.
5–10:
Pausing to look at a well-designed logo or piece of clothing.
10–20:
Walking through a curated art gallery.
20–40:
Seeing a landmark like the Grand Canyon for the first time.
40–60:
Witnessing the Aurora Borealis in person.
60–100:
A "Stendhal Syndrome" moment where beauty is overwhelming.
Negative (Ugliness/Decay)
0–5:
Noticing a beautiful painting is slightly crooked.
5–10:
Seeing a pristine park covered in a little bit of litter.
10–20:
Watching a beautiful sunset get choked out by smog.
20–40:
Seeing a historic, beautiful building being demolished.
40–60:
Witnessing a masterpiece of art being intentionally vandalized.
60–100:
Seeing a once-beautiful natural paradise turned into a wasteland.
Amusement
Positive (Increasing Amusement)
0–5:
A faint smile at a typo in a text message.
5–10:
Chuckling at a mild pun or a "dad joke."
10–20:
Laughing out loud at a well-written sitcom.
20–40:
A friend telling a hilarious "you had to be there" story.
40–60:
An uncontrollable, crying-laughing fit.
60–100:
Laughing so hard you literally cannot breathe or move.
Negative (Loss of Humor)
0–5:
A joke "dies" because someone explained the punchline.
5–10:
Realizing a funny video was actually staged and fake.
10–20:
A comedy show turning into a depressing political lecture.
20–40:
Finding out a "funny" prank actually hurt someone deeply.
40–60:
Trying to laugh during a tragedy and feeling nothing but emptiness.
60–100:
The total loss of the ability to find joy or humor in anything (Anhedonia).
Anger
Positive (Increasing Anger)
0–5:
Slight annoyance at a slow-loading webpage.
5–10:
Being cut off in slow-moving traffic.
10–20:
Finding out a sibling "borrowed" and broke something of yours.
20–40:
Being blamed for a major mistake someone else made.
40–60:
Discovering a partner has been lying to you for months.
60–100:
A "blind rage" where you lose sense of time and logic.
Negative (Cooling Down/Apathy)
0–5:
Taking a breath and realizing you overreacted to a slow site.
5–10:
Accepting an apology for being cut off in traffic.
10–20:
Deciding a sibling's mistake isn't worth the energy of a fight.
20–40:
Reaching a "cold" peace after a heated domestic argument.
40–60:
Forgiving someone for a massive betrayal (letting go of the rage).
60–100:
Reaching total emotional numbness toward an old enemy.
Anxiety
Positive (Increasing Anxiety)
0–5:
Briefly wondering if you left a light on at home.
5–10:
Checking your watch when the bus is 2 minutes late.
10–20:
Realizing you are unprepared for an upcoming meeting.
20–40:
Waiting for a call back from a doctor regarding a test.
40–60:
A full-blown, physical panic attack.
60–100:
The agonizing terror of a missing child not being found.
Negative (Becoming Calm/Reassured)
0–5:
Remembering you actually did turn the lights off.
5–10:
Seeing the bus turn the corner after waiting.
10–20:
Finding the notes you thought you lost before a meeting.
20–40:
Hearing "It's benign" from a doctor after weeks of worry.
40–60:
The sudden, overwhelming peace when a panic attack ends.
60–100:
The absolute weightlessness of a "Missing" person being found safe.
Awe
Positive (Increasing Awe)
0–5:
Looking at a particularly tall or old tree.
5–10:
Watching a single, high-quality firework.
10–20:
Standing under a massive, ancient cathedral ceiling.
20–40:
Seeing the Milky Way in a truly dark, desert sky.
40–60:
Looking at Earth from space (The Overview Effect).
60–100:
A profound, life-altering religious or spiritual epiphany.
Negative (Disenchantment)
0–5:
Realizing a "huge" tree is actually just average size.
5–10:
Seeing the "magic trick" behind a massive firework display.
10–20:
Finding out a "historic" cathedral is actually a 1990s replica.
20–40:
Learning the scientific, mundane explanation for a "miracle."
40–60:
Feeling "smallness" rather than "greatness" when looking at the stars.
60–100:
The total "death of wonder" regarding the universe or life.
Awkwardness
Positive (Increasing Awkwardness)
0–5:
A three-second lull in a phone conversation.
5–10:
Mispronouncing a common word in a casual meeting.
10–20:
Forgetting the name of someone you've met twice before.
20–40:
Accidentally walking into the wrong restroom.
40–60:
Being caught in a major, shameful lie.
60–100:
Being walked in on during your most private, intimate moment.
Negative (Gaining Confidence)
0–5:
Making a joke to break a 3-second silence.
5–10:
Realizing everyone else mispronounced the word, too.
10–20:
Laughing off the fact that you forgot someone's name.
20–40:
Owning the mistake of walking into the wrong restroom with a grin.
40–60:
Speaking your truth after being caught in a lie and feeling "clean."
60–100:
Moving from total social shame to absolute, radical self-acceptance.
Boredom
Positive (Increasing Boredom)
0–5:
Waiting 30 seconds for an elevator to arrive.
5–10:
Listening to a weather report you've already heard.
10–20:
A two-hour lecture on a topic you have no interest in.
20–40:
Being stuck in a waiting room with no phone or magazines.
40–60:
Being in solitary confinement for an afternoon.
60–100:
Total sensory deprivation for days on end.
Negative (Becoming Stimulated)
0–5:
Finding a funny doodle on a piece of paper.
5–10:
A boring weather report suddenly mentions a coming storm.
10–20:
A dull lecture suddenly pivots to your favorite topic.
20–40:
Finding an old Gameboy in a boring waiting room.
40–60:
The rush of adrenaline when "nothing" suddenly becomes "everything."
60–100:
Coming out of long-term isolation into a world of color and sound.
Calmness
Positive (Increasing Calmness)
0–5:
Taking one conscious, deep breath.
5–10:
Sitting in a quiet room for five minutes.
10–20:
A warm bath at the very end of a long day.
20–40:
Meditating in a forest with zero city noise.
40–60:
Feeling perfectly safe and relaxed under anesthesia.
60–100:
Achieving a state of total Zen "Oneness" or Nirvana.
Negative (Becoming Agitated)
0–5:
Hearing a faint, high-pitched ringing in a quiet room.
5–10:
A fly buzzing around your head while you try to rest.
10–20:
Someone playing loud music during your bath time.
20–40:
A peaceful forest hike interrupted by a construction crew.
40–60:
Being jolted awake from a deep sleep by a scream.
60–100:
Total destruction of peace by an immediate, violent threat.
Confusion
Positive (Increasing Confusion)
0–5:
Forgetting for a second why you walked into a room.
5–10:
Trying to remember a celebrity's name on the tip of your tongue.
10–20:
Reading a complex, jargon-heavy legal document.
20–40:
Receiving contradictory directions in a foreign city.
40–60:
Waking up with total amnesia in a hospital.
60–100:
A complete psychotic break or "ego death."
Negative (Clarity/Epiphany)
0–5:
Remembering exactly where you left your keys.
5–10:
Finally "getting" a riddle someone told you.
10–20:
A complex legal paragraph suddenly "clicking" in your mind.
20–40:
A translator finally explaining what the foreigner meant.
40–60:
Memories rushing back after a period of amnesia.
60–100:
The "Ultimate Truth" revealing itself; everything makes sense.
Craving
Positive (Increasing Craving)
0–5:
Thinking "a coffee sounds okay right now."
5–10:
Seeing an advertisement for a snack you like.
10–20:
Smelling fresh pizza when you haven't eaten all day.
20–40:
Wanting a drink or cigarette after a very stressful day.
40–60:
Intense physical withdrawal symptoms from an addiction.
60–100:
Dying of thirst and seeing a mirage of water in a desert.
Negative (Satiation/Aversion)
0–5:
Having one sip of coffee and feeling "done."
5–10:
Seeing an ad for a snack and feeling slightly nauseated by it.
10–20:
Eating so much pizza you can't stand the smell anymore.
20–40:
Reaching a point in sobriety where the "urge" completely vanishes.
40–60:
The feeling of fullness after being starved for days.
60–100:
Total loss of desire for a substance that once controlled you.
Disgust
Positive (Increasing Disgust)
0–5:
Seeing a small coffee stain on your favorite shirt.
5–10:
Finding a single hair on an unused dinner plate.
10–20:
Stepping in dog waste with your bare feet.
20–40:
Smelling rotting garbage in a hot, enclosed kitchen.
40–60:
Accidentally eating something infested with maggots.
60–100:
Witnessing an act of extreme, inhuman cruelty.
Negative (Acceptance/Desensitization)
0–5:
Deciding the coffee stain on your shirt "looks like a cloud."
5–10:
Realizing the hair on the plate is actually just your own.
10–20:
A medical student getting used to the smell of a cadaver.
20–40:
A plumber becoming unbothered by raw sewage.
40–60:
Finding "beauty" in something others find repulsive (e.g., bones).
60–100:
Total immunity to being "grossed out" (e.g., a seasoned combat medic).
Empathetic Pain
Positive (Increasing Empathy)
0–5:
Wincing when a character trips on a TV show.
5–10:
Feeling "bad" for a friend who lost a five-dollar bill.
10–20:
Watching a close friend get dumped by a partner.
20–40:
Seeing someone cry inconsolably at a funeral.
40–60:
Watching a parent lose their only child.
60–100:
Feeling the collective, crushing trauma of a national tragedy.
Negative (Hardening/Schadenfreude)
0–5:
Not caring that a fictional character tripped.
5–10:
Feeling "they deserved it" when a rude friend loses five dollars.
10–20:
Feeling zero pity when an ex-partner gets dumped.
20–40:
Feeling a cold satisfaction watching an enemy cry.
40–60:
Developing a "thick skin" to suffering after seeing too much of it.
60–100:
Total loss of empathy; becoming a sociopathic observer.
Entrancement
Positive (Increasing Entrancement)
0–5:
Glancing at a flickering candle for a moment.
5–10:
Watching rain droplets run down a windowpane.
10–20:
Watching a professional, high-skill ballet performance.
20–40:
Being completely "lost" in a masterpiece of a film.
40–60:
Being "hypnotized" by a truly charismatic speaker.
60–100:
A complete loss of self-identity in a deep trance state.
Negative (Breaking the Spell)
0–5:
Looking away from a candle to check your phone.
5–10:
Noticing the "seams" in a movie's special effects.
10–20:
Realizing a ballet dancer made a small technical error.
20–40:
Noticing the manipulative tactics of a charismatic speaker.
40–60:
Suddenly "snapping out" of a deep, daydreaming state.
60–100:
Escaping a cult or "brainwashing" and seeing the reality.
Excitement
Positive (Increasing Excitement)
0–5:
Getting a "See you soon!" text from a friend.
5–10:
Hearing your favorite song start on the radio.
10–20:
Heading to the airport for a long-awaited vacation.
20–40:
Winning a few hundred dollars on a lottery ticket.
40–60:
Jumping out of a plane for the first time (Skydiving).
60–100:
Winning a life-changing, massive jackpot.
Negative (The "Crash")
0–5:
A "See you soon" text is followed by "Wait, I'm late."
5–10:
Your favorite song is cut off by a commercial.
10–20:
Your flight to vacation is delayed by 12 hours.
20–40:
Finding out your "winning" lottery ticket was for last week.
40–60:
Being told you can't skydive because of bad weather.
60–100:
Winning the jackpot only to have the bank seize it immediately.
Fear
Positive (Increasing Fear)
0–5:
A floorboard creaking in a familiar, empty house.
5–10:
Realizing you can't find your phone in your pocket.
10–20:
Being followed by a growling, stray dog.
20–40:
Realizing you are lost in a very dangerous neighborhood.
40–60:
Being held at gunpoint during a robbery.
60–100:
A near-death experience during a natural disaster.
Negative (Gaining Courage)
0–5:
Realizing the "creak" was just the house settling.
5–10:
Patting your other pocket and finding your phone.
10–20:
The growling dog wags its tail and walks away.
20–40:
Finding a familiar landmark while lost in a bad area.
40–60:
Standing up to the person holding the gun.
60–100:
Facing certain death and realizing you are no longer afraid.
Horror
Positive (Increasing Horror)
0–5:
Seeing a large spider in the corner of the garden.
5–10:
Hearing a sudden, unexplained loud crash in the kitchen.
10–20:
Watching a graphic, bloody scene in a slasher film.
20–40:
Finding a dead animal on your own doorstep.
40–60:
Witnessing a violent crime happen in person.
60–100:
Discovering a supernatural, cosmic nightmare scenario.
Negative (Normalizing the Macabre)
0–5:
Realizing the "spider" is just a piece of lint.
5–10:
Finding out the "crash" in the kitchen was just the cat.
10–20:
Realizing a "graphic" movie scene is just bad CGI.
20–40:
Realizing the "dead animal" is just a discarded fur coat.
40–60:
Realizing the "crime" was actually a movie being filmed.
60–100:
Reaching a state of "Gallows Humor" where nothing is shocking.
Interest
Positive (Increasing Interest)
0–5:
Reading a headline about a potential new hobby.
5–10:
Noticing a "Coming Soon" sign for a new neighborhood shop.
10–20:
Starting a deep-dive into a new documentary series.
20–40:
Having a "flow state" conversation about a deep passion.
40–60:
Discovering a secret that changes your worldview.
60–100:
Solving a "unsolvable" mystery of science or the universe.
Negative (Losing Focus)
0–5:
Getting bored halfway through a news headline.
5–10:
The "Coming Soon" shop turns out to be a boring bank.
10–20:
A documentary becomes repetitive and dry in the second half.
20–40:
Realizing your "passion" was just a passing hyper-fixation.
40–60:
The mystery you solved turns out to be a boring clerical error.
60–100:
Reaching a state of total "Apathy" where nothing is interesting.
Joy
Positive (Increasing Joy)
0–5:
Finding a dollar bill in the pocket of an old jacket.
5–10:
Getting a green light when you're in a bit of a hurry.
10–20:
A surprise visit from a dear, old friend.
20–40:
Receiving a glowing, unexpected performance review.
40–60:
Marrying the love of your life.
60–100:
Achieving a lifelong, "impossible" dream against all odds.
Negative (Melancholy/Sorrow)
0–5:
Realizing the dollar you found is counterfeit.
5–10:
The green light turns red just as you reach the line.
10–20:
The surprise visit from a friend becomes an awkward confrontation.
20–40:
A glowing performance review is followed by a layoff.
40–60:
Finding out your spouse was only marrying you for money.
60–100:
Having your greatest achievement erased or stolen.
Nostalgia
Positive (Increasing Nostalgia)
0–5:
Seeing a toy in a store that you used to own as a kid.
5–10:
Smelling a perfume your grandmother wore once.
10–20:
Visiting your childhood elementary school playground.
20–40:
Looking through a wedding album from 20 years ago.
40–60:
Returning to a childhood home that no longer exists.
60–100:
Being reunited with a "lost" parent after 40 years apart.
Negative (Severing Ties)
0–5:
Throwing away an old toy without a second thought.
5–10:
Realizing the "grandma perfume" actually smells terrible.
10–20:
Visiting your old school and realizing it's small and ugly.
20–40:
Tearing up old photos to finally "move on" from a past life.
40–60:
Realizing your "happy" childhood memories were actually lies.
60–100:
Total "erasure" of the past; choosing to forget who you were.
Relief
Positive (Increasing Relief)
0–5:
Realizing you have 10 minutes left on a task timer.
5–10:
Finding your misplaced glasses sitting on your own head.
10–20:
Seeing a "Negative" result on a stressful medical test.
20–40:
Being told a major car repair is covered by warranty.
40–60:
Being rescued after being trapped for several days.
60–100:
Learning a loved one survived a "fatal" plane crash.
Negative (The Return of the Burden)
0–5:
Realizing the 10 minutes left on the timer isn't enough.
5–10:
Finding your glasses, but realizing one lens is cracked.
10–20:
A "Negative" test was a "False Negative"; you are actually sick.
20–40:
The car repair warranty is denied on a technicality.
40–60:
Being "rescued" only to be captured by a different enemy.
60–100:
Learning the loved one survived the crash, but died in surgery.
Romance
Positive (Increasing Romance)
0–5:
A brief, meaningful moment of eye contact.
5–10:
Receiving a polite, sincere compliment on your appearance.
10–20:
A long, lingering, and meaningful first kiss.
20–40:
A perfect candlelit dinner with deep, soul-baring talk.
40–60:
Declaring "I want to spend forever with you" and meaning it.
60–100:
A "Twin Flame" connection that defies all logic or time.
Negative (Heartbreak/Coldness)
0–5:
A romantic look is interrupted by a cell phone ringing.
5–10:
A compliment that feels "rehearsed" or "fake."
10–20:
A first kiss that is clumsy and has zero chemistry.
20–40:
A candlelit dinner that turns into a breakup conversation.
40–60:
Realizing your "soulmate" has been cheating the whole time.
60–100:
The total "Death of Love"; seeing a partner as a total stranger.
Sadness
Positive (Increasing Sadness)
0–5:
A minor, likable character in a book passes away.
5–10:
Finishing a "good" TV series and feeling it's over.
10–20:
Dropping a birthday cake you spent hours baking.
20–40:
Hearing that a distant but well-liked relative passed.
40–60:
The death of a spouse, child, or life partner.
60–100:
Total, inconsolable despair and loss of hope.
Negative (Healing/Happiness)
0–5:
Realizing the book character's death was actually a "fake out."
5–10:
Finding a new TV series to replace the one you finished.
10–20:
Realizing you can bake a better cake in half the time.
20–40:
Finding a beautiful way to honor a relative who passed.
40–60:
The first time you laugh after losing a spouse.
60–100:
Total "Resurrection" of the spirit after deep clinical depression.
Satisfaction
Positive (Increasing Satisfaction)
0–5:
Closing all the extra tabs on your internet browser.
5–10:
Finally untying a very difficult knot in a string.
10–20:
Finishing a 1,000-piece puzzle after several days.
20–40:
Seeing a "Paid in Full" notice on a major life loan.
40–60:
Retiring after 50 years of hard, honest work.
60–100:
Achieving total, absolute self-actualization.
Negative (Failure/Frustration)
0–5:
Your browser crashes right after you close all the tabs.
5–10:
The knot you untied was actually holding something important.
10–20:
Realizing the 1,000-piece puzzle is missing the final piece.
20–40:
The "Paid in Full" notice was sent to you by mistake.
40–60:
Retiring only to realize you have no money and no hobbies.
60–100:
Realizing your "Life's Work" was actually harmful or useless.
Sexual Desire
Positive (Increasing Desire)
0–5:
Briefly noticing that a stranger is conventionally attractive.
5–10:
A brief, suggestive glance from someone you like.
10–20:
Intense, heavy flirting with a brand-new crush.
20–40:
A heavy, passionate make-out session.
40–60:
All-consuming, overwhelming physical passion.
60–100:
A primal, transcendental physical and soul connection.
Negative (Turn-off/Loss of Libido)
0–5:
An attractive stranger says something very ignorant.
5–10:
A suggestive glance is followed by a gross comment.
10–20:
Intimacy is ruined by a bad smell or poor hygiene.
20–40:
A make-out session is cut short by a terrible argument.
40–60:
Total loss of attraction to someone because of their character.
60–100:
Total sexual aversion or "shutting down" of that part of the self.
Surprise
Positive (Increasing Surprise)
0–5:
An unexpected notification sound from your phone.
5–10:
A lightbulb in the room burning out suddenly.
10–20:
A friend jumping out from a corner to "scare" you.
20–40:
Finding out you won an award you didn't even enter.
40–60:
An unexpected "Total Loss" of a home to an accident.
60–100:
Finding out you are the secret heir to a massive throne.
Negative (Predictability/Status Quo)
0–5:
Hearing a notification you already expected.
5–10:
Knowing the lightbulb would blow because it's been flickering.
10–20:
Seeing your friend's shoes peeking out from behind the corner.
20–40:
Finding out you "won" an award because your dad bought it.
40–60:
Watching your home burn down but feeling like "of course this happened."
60–100:
Realizing your "secret heir" status was a prank or a scam.