In this enlightening discussion, psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, known for her work on the science of emotions, teams up with host Adam Grant. They unravel the misconceptions surrounding emotions, revealing how we can gain control over them by changing our thoughts. Lisa highlights the fascinating concept of emotional granularity and the power of language in shaping emotions. They even share unique emotion words from different cultures, illustrating the complexity of our emotional experiences.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
TED Talk Anxiety
Lisa Feldman Barrett used her science to manage her anxiety before her TED Talk.
By reframing her high arousal as determination, she successfully delivered her presentation.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Butterflies in Formation
Get your butterflies flying in formation.
Recategorize anxiety as determination to overcome performance stress, similar to a karate sensei's advice.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Pandemic Arousal
Lisa describes managing her arousal during the pandemic's announcement.
Instead of labeling it as anxiety, she focused on gathering information to reduce uncertainty.
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In this book, Lisa Feldman Barrett demystifies the brain through seven short essays and a brief story on its evolution. She explains where brains came from, their structure, and how they function in tandem with other brains. The book dispels myths such as the 'lizard brain' and the battle between thoughts and emotions or nature and nurture. Barrett highlights the brain's primary role in controlling the body, discusses brain development, and emphasizes the social and cultural aspects of cognition and consciousness.
How Emotions Are Made
The Secret Life of the Brain
Lisa Feldman Barrett
In this book, Lisa Feldman Barrett presents a new neuroscientific explanation of emotions, overturning the widely held belief that emotions are automatic, universal, and hardwired in different brain regions. Instead, she argues that emotions are constructed in the moment through a unique interplay of brain, body, and culture. Barrett's theory, known as the 'Theory of Constructed Emotions,' suggests that emotions are highly individualized and vary by culture. The book explores how this new understanding has significant implications for fields such as psychology, medicine, law, parenting, and national security. Barrett uses clear, readable prose and practical examples to make her complex theories accessible to a broad audience.
Emotions are like opinions — everyone has them. Thanks to the pioneering research of today’s guest, we know that it’s possible to transform our feelings by changing how we think and talk about them. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a psychologist and neuroscientist at Northeastern University and Harvard Medical School. In this episode, Lisa and Adam bust myths about how emotions are constructed in the brain and experienced in the body. They discuss the surprising evidence that language doesn’t just describe emotions — it shapes them. And they examine how managing your emotions is easier than you may realize. Transcripts for ReThinking are available at go.ted.com/RWAGscripts
Worklife with Adam Grant 
