10% Happier with Dan Harris How Your Emotions Are Made | Lisa Feldman Barrett
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Apr 5, 2021 
In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, a leading researcher on emotions and a professor at Northeastern University, delves into the intricate nature of emotions versus feelings. She highlights how emotions evolved and how our brains construct them from sensory input. Dr. Barrett underscores the importance of emotional regulation and reframing sensations to build resilience. The conversation also touches on integrating gratitude and awe to enhance emotional well-being, offering valuable insights on navigating emotions in a post-pandemic world.
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Emotions are Constructed
- Emotions are not fixed entities with distinct signatures in the body.
- They are variable and context-dependent, constructed by the brain.
Scowling and Anger
- People scowl only 30% of the time when angry, highlighting the variability of emotional expression.
- Feldman-Barrett's husband scowls when concentrating, demonstrating that expressions aren't always tied to specific emotions.
Feelings vs. Emotions
- Feelings are basic sensations reflecting the body's internal state, like pleasantness, unpleasantness, calmness, or agitation.
- The brain interprets these sensations as emotions by using past experiences to predict and make sense of them.
