How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain

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Introduction

Lisa Feldman Barret takes us on an adventure to probe three dominant factors, our culture, our brain, and us, colluding to create and emanate emotions. Ensuing her wide knowledge in the field of neuroscience and psychology aided by dedicated scientific research, in "How Emotions Are Made," Barrett walks us through the evolution of our understanding of emotions.Do we have an inherent system of emotions? Do these emotions surface in a pre-defined manner in response to any stimulus? Or do humans...

The Classic Perspective: Emotions as Innate Components of Our Brain

People have been thinking about emotions for thousands of years. Many famous thinkers, including Charles Darwin, the Buddha, Aristotle, and Sigmund Freud, believed that emotions are automatic reactions controlled by specific parts of the brain. This is called the classical view of emotions.The classical view suggests that emotions are ‘universal’ i.e. every human has the same set of emotions. The idea of essentialism builds upon this, suggesting that emotions have their own "essence” or property (including expression), and because emotions...

Futile Research Investment: Scientific Evidence Challenges the Classic View of Emotion

Barrett, backed by her extensive research, challenges the classical perspective on emotions. This traditional view suggests that each emotion should have a single, distinct facial expression that accurately represents it. However, is this view truly valid when we consider the complexities of human emotions?Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences. Have you ever noticed that when you're excited, your facial expression doesn't always align with what we typically label as "happiness"? Similarly, when you've experienced loss, your expression...

Unleashing Emotion: Experiences Shape Spontaneous Emotional Responses

Barrett strongly argues that our emotions are not predetermined or inherent, but rather, we actively construct them based on our unique life experiences and the context in which we find ourselves. This perspective challenges the traditional notion of fixed and predefined emotions, suggesting that we are continually shaping our emotional responses as we navigate the complexities of life.For example, when faced with situations that trigger jealousy, our responses can vary along a spectrum of reactions. Each response has its distinct...

Masters of Prediction: How Physiological Processes Shape Emotions in the Body

Imagine being a skilled pianist, effortlessly moving your fingers across the keys, unmindfully producing beautiful melodies. It is like your hands have a mind of their own, gliding over the piano as if they know the music by heart. This fascinating phenomenon is known as muscle memory, and it's just one aspect of a powerful system called "interoception."Interoception is like your brain's personal assistant, constantly coordinating your nervous system, hormonal, cardiovascular and other systems without bothering you with the details....

Interoception System: Regulating the Body's Resource Budget

Fancy your brain as a deft financial manager, constantly maintaining track of your body's resources and ensuring everything is running smoothly. This brain network has two main sections that work together like a well-oiled machine.The body-budgeting section is just like a financial planner, it relies on past experiences to calculate your body's requirements in every situation. It then uses that info to control the body’s internal environment as the body responds. When you encounter stressful or scary situations, for example,...

Cultural Impact on the Construction of Emotional Beliefs: Understanding Emotion Concepts

Imagine a world where sadness is not associated with expressing emotion in a certain way. Instead, it is described as a feeling of exhaustion from being overworked. In this fascinating world, our understanding of emotions is shaped by the ideas and concepts that help us make sense of our surroundings. And these ideas, believe it or not, are influenced by culture.Now, let's talk about cupcakes and muffins. They may seem pretty similar, made from almost the same ingredients and sharing...

Culturally Embedded Emotion Concepts from Birth: Unlocking the Potential for Learning

From the very moment you enter this world, a whole universe of emotions awaits you. Your parents and society eagerly introduce you to the world of emotions—hunger, anger, excitement, disappointment, and the list goes on. These are all taught to us. We don’t have them built in at birth, nor are they universal. But don't be fooled, babies have feelings too! They may not have words yet, but they are already made up of those wondrous notions called effects.But the...

Summary

"How Emotions Are Made," delves into fundamental questions about the nature of emotions. The conventional belief that emotions are solely controlled by rational thought or governed by automatic responses has long been disproven. Instead, the latest research findings highlight the intricate connection between the mind, emotions, and the brain. Emotions are not fixed entities but rather dynamic constructs shaped by cultural influences, brain processes, and interpretations of bodily sensations. This knowledge will empower you to enhance your emotional intelligence and...

Key concepts in How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain

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About the Author

Lisa Feldman Barrett is a University Distinguished Professor of psychology at Northeastern University, where she focuses on affective science. She is a director of the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory. Along with James Russell, she is the founding editor-in-chief of the journal Emotion Review.