Second lecture given within the summer course Dark emotions. Reflections from philosophy, psychology and cultural history. In this course, we reflect on the meaning, function, and relevance in history and the contemporary world of emotions such as hatred, fear, shame, melancholy, anger, grief, envy, and guilt. We also analyze how these emotions contribute to our self-understanding and what their role is in a current context marked by uncertainty, polarization, and disillusionment. To this end, the course adopted a multidisciplinary approach, integrating philosophical, psychological, and historical perspectives, fostering critical dialogue among them, and advocating for a more nuanced and profound understanding of our emotional spectrum.