Literal feeling 11.8% Metaphorical 70.6% I don’t say “gut feeling” 15% See results 2.6%
I’m in the “don’t say ‘gut feeling’” camp, but if I did it would have to be metaphorical because usually intuitions or, say, strong emotional predictions (most likely to elicit the strong feeling) feel a bit like they come from “within” but not, like, from any actual physical location (and definitely not as low as my belly—it’d have to be like my heart except if it was centrally located between my lungs instead of shoved to the left like in most humans.
Edit: On reflection, plenty of feelings also feel like they are from the ‘core’, especially when strong; though I think I tend not to focus on this when talking because I don’t find it useful compared to mental effects.
I also was kind of surprised when it turned out ‘gut feeling’ actually meant a feeling in your belly-area.
Added: I wonder if the notion of ‘having a hunch’ comes from something that causes you to hunch over?
I think the gut thing is usually metaphorical though
Let’s test this! I made a Twitter poll.
Results:
Literal feeling 11.8%
Metaphorical 70.6%
I don’t say “gut feeling” 15%
See results 2.6%
I’m in the “don’t say ‘gut feeling’” camp, but if I did it would have to be metaphorical because usually intuitions or, say, strong emotional predictions (most likely to elicit the strong feeling) feel a bit like they come from “within” but not, like, from any actual physical location (and definitely not as low as my belly—it’d have to be like my heart except if it was centrally located between my lungs instead of shoved to the left like in most humans.
Edit: On reflection, plenty of feelings also feel like they are from the ‘core’, especially when strong; though I think I tend not to focus on this when talking because I don’t find it useful compared to mental effects.