What Does Inside Out 2 Teach Us About Teen’s Emotions?

"Inside Out 2" is one of the year's top-grossing movies. It's a funny, charming story that also profoundly dives into the exploration of human emotions and psyche. Featuring new emotions that didn't appear in the original film, the creators have expanded on the foundational core emotions shown in that first movie to continue exploring the complexity of a teen's emotional experience. The new characters provide a richer and more nuanced portrayal of the main character, Riley Anderson's inner world. The movie delivers a valuable lesson on the emotional lives of teens, and it can serve as a conversation starter between parents and teenagers to bridge the gap in their understanding of each other.

Learning about New Emotions through the New Characters

inside Out 2 introduces four new emotions as characters that appear in the now 14-year-old Riley's inner life. These characters are:

Envy: A character that reflects strong emotions when Riley encounters situations where she feels lacking compared to others. Envy's role is as an emotional experience that leads to a complex set of feelings, often difficult to manage.
Embarrassment: This character reflects Riley's uncomfortable emotions when she tries to navigate the social minefield of adolescence. Embarrassment illustrates how Riley struggles with self-consciousness and social apprehension at a time when peer acceptance is crucial.
Anxiety: This character is introduced as a primary emotion that takes a life of its own in the movie. It represents the mental health crisis that many teens face during this turbulent period. Through this character, the film explores the importance of acknowledging and coping with Anxiety rather than dismissing it.
Ennui: The final new character symbolizes the feeling of listlessness and discontent that can sometimes fill a teen's life. Though not often highlighted, Ennui taps into the more negative and difficult emotions associated with boredom and lack of excitement.

What it says about the interaction between the new and old characters

The original emotions introduced in the first film play crucial roles in depicting Riley's psychological and emotional experiences. Each emotion retains its primary function: Joy drives happiness and positivity, Sadness brings depth and empathy, and Anger protects and creates boundaries. Meanwhile, Fear cautions and promotes safety, and Disgust guards against harmful influences. Including these original emotions and their interaction with the new emotions plays a pivotal role in validating that all feelings, even the negative ones, are an essential part of the human experience. They reinforce the movie's message about the importance of embracing a full spectrum of emotions for a teenager's mental health and well-being.

What Teenagers Can Take Away from Inside Out 2

This movie illuminates in so many ways for teenagers to understand how new, complex emotions emerge from within themselves. During the teenage years, a person is influenced by developmental, biological, and environmental factors. It's a crucial time when teenagers start to form their own identities and separate from their parents, leading to new and sometimes uncomfortable feelings. However, Inside Out 2 explains that this is a natural process every teenager goes through. It shows how a teenager's brain is still maturing and how this can cause a teen to struggle with impulse control and stronger emotions. The movie teaches both teens and parents to be patient, as the teens may not yet know how to express their feelings effectively, and parents must adjust their expectations. Socially, teenagers are also still exposed to more varied and intense peer relationships. Peer acceptance becomes paramount, while rejection can trigger many negativities. The combination of all these changes, as depicted in the movie, can help teens understand what they're experiencing in real life: a spectrum of powerful emotions during their formative years that challenge them while they learn to cope with their changing situations. Exploring these new emotions in the sequel allows the audience to be educated and feel validated. They may no longer feel alone or clueless about how to deal with the rampant feelings they hold inside.

What Parents Can Take Away from Inside Out 2

Some parents seem to understand their teens better after watching Inside Out 2. For those parents who have yet to watch the movie, here's a highlight of what they can take away from the Pixar movie. The parent's role is to provide emotional support. The movie emphasizes that parental support is important in helping teens navigate their emotions. As a parent, you're encouraged to make yourself available whenever they need it and help healthy coping mechanisms to deal with difficult times. It's also the parents' role to recognize when to seek professional help. If your teen is experiencing a mental health crisis that you feel unequipped to handle, don't hesitate to find help from the pros. The movie also drives home the importance of validation. Learn how to acknowledge your teen's emotions, letting them know they're understandable and natural. A part of this validation is also affirming that their life's challenges are warranted in building self-esteem and helping emotional regulation. Lastly, refrain from dismissing or minimizing a teen's feelings, as this may lead to isolation and misunderstandings.