It’s a fallacy that we experience one emotion at a time, we can experience all kinds of emotions at the same time. So of course it might not be simple to know exactly what we are feeling in the moment. But we do generally know if we feel negative or positive about an event.

If there is confusion it’s because the reasons/excuses people tell us for their actions don’t match their actions.

Inability to give a present doesn’t match up with the fact he gives presents to his family.