Silvan Tomkins

Silvan Tomkins was a psychologist who studied human emotions and how they influence our behavior. He believed that emotions are fundamental drivers of our actions and decisions, not just reactions but active forces shaping our experiences. Tomkins identified basic emotional systems, such as joy, sadness, anger, fear, and others, which he argued are universal across people and cultures. His work helps explain why we feel certain ways and how those feelings motivate our responses, providing a deeper understanding of emotional life and human motivation.