# Beginner in TikZ: Replicating an easy graph nicely

It's my first plot and I tried to google for half an hour but couldn't figure out how to fix my attempt to replicate this graph. Could someone help me?

This is, what I have got:

Errors so far:

1. parabola (2,2)node[pos=0.8, right=10pt] {erfahren}; positioning doesn't work, anyways the parables are wrong
2. I couldn't find how to draw these parables, something like -((x-2)^2)+2

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}

\draw (0,0) -- (5,0) node[pos=0.5,below=14pt] {Zeit$\rightarrow$};
\draw (0,0) -- (0,3) node[pos=0.5, left=10pt][text width=2cm]{$\uparrow$\\Emotionale\\Insensität};

\draw (0,0) parabola (2,2)node[pos=0.8, right=10pt] {erfahren};
\draw[dashed] (0,0) parabola (3,2)node[pos=0.5, right=10pt] {vorhergesagt};

\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


-
1. The change lines \\  doesn't work. Use a \parbox. 2. Try shift right=3pt. 3. Take a look at the Hobby package for "freehand" drawing of graphs. –  Charles Staats Mar 14 '14 at 19:08
Well, changing the lines works if the node is aligned. Imho I would say align=center is better than using a parbox but then it's only a gut feeling (i. e. I don't have a concise point for or against either one). –  henry Mar 14 '14 at 19:11
@henry align or text width keys switch the node hbox to a minipage which is a little better for node text control –  percusse Mar 14 '14 at 19:13
thank you ! I edited the graph. could someone give me advice, how to draw this upside down parables? and how to put the nodes with an I (Time1/2/3/4)? –  Tobias Wille Mar 14 '14 at 20:14

With a little TikZ:

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}
% Time axis
\draw (0,0) -- node[below=1cm] {Time $\to$} (6,0);
% Emotional axis
\draw (0,0) -- node[left] {\parbox{2cm}{\centering $\uparrow$ \\ Emotional \\ intensity}} (0,4);
% Time ticks
\foreach \x [count=\j] in {0.2,3,4.5,6} {
\draw (\x,0) coordinate (t\j) -- (\x,-0.1cm) node[below] (tt\j) {Time \j};
}
\node[below] at (tt1.south) {(Emotional event)};
% Curves
\draw (t1) .. controls +(1,2) .. node[above right] {Experienced} (t2);
\draw[dashed] (t1) .. controls +(1,4) .. node[above right] {Predicted} (t4);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}


-
Thank you very much ! –  Tobias Wille Mar 14 '14 at 20:31
\parbox is not a TikZ solution! You may use align=center as node option instead. –  Paul Gaborit Mar 14 '14 at 21:22