Emotions are not hardwired reactions but constructed through concepts, challenging the belief in automatic responses.
Understanding the role of concepts gives individuals more control over their emotions and the ability to reshape their perceptions.
Deep dives
The Discovery of a New Emotion: Legot
Anthropologist Renado Rosaldo discovered a new emotion called Legot, which was central to a small group of communities in the Philippines. Legot was a complex and intense emotion, unlike more easily understood emotions like anger or joy. Despite years of studying and speaking with community members, Rosaldo struggled to fully grasp the depth of Legot until a decade later when he finally experienced it himself. The knowledge of this new emotion challenges the way we think about emotions and how they vary within different cultures.
The Role of Concepts in Emotions
According to Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychology professor, emotions are not hardwired reactions, but constructed through concepts. She challenges the belief that emotions are automatic responses to external stimuli. Instead, emotions are based on past experiences and cultural concepts that shape how we feel and interpret the world around us. Barrett argues that by understanding the role of concepts, we have more control over our emotions and can reshape our perceptions.
A Unique Legal Case on Emotional Distress
The podcast explores a legal case involving emotional distress. Tommy Jerrett, a truck driver who caused a fatal accident, sued the family of the deceased child for emotional distress. This case challenged the traditional understanding of emotions in legal contexts and questioned who should be held responsible for emotions caused by traumatic events. The Missouri Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of emotional distress claims, recognizing the impact emotions have on individuals.
Taking Control and Responsibility for Emotions
The podcast episode concludes with examining the implications of understanding emotions as constructed through concepts. While emotions can be influenced by external events and concepts, individuals still have a degree of control and responsibility over their emotional responses. By recognizing the power of concepts and being aware of the influence they have, individuals can better navigate and shape their emotional experiences.
A thief knocks down your door and you are flooded with fear. Your baby smiles up at you and you are filled with love. It feels like this is how emotions work: something happens, and we instinctively respond. How could it be any other way? Well, the latest research in psychology and neuroscience shows that's not in fact how emotions work. We offer you a truly mind-blowing alternative explanation for how an emotion gets made. And we do it through a bizarre lawsuit, in which a child dies in a car accident, and the child's parents get sued by the man driving the other car.
