'emotion-centered' originates from the combination of 'emotion' and 'centered', where 'emotion' refers to feelings and 'centered' means focused or concentrated on.

'emotion' comes from the Latin word 'emotio', meaning 'a moving, stirring, agitation', and 'centered' is derived from the Old French 'centre', meaning 'middle point'.

Initially, 'emotion-centered' meant focusing on emotional aspects, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.