Lisa Feldman Barrett, a pioneering psychologist and author of 'How Emotions Are Made,' joins the discussion on the nuanced world of emotions. She challenges the idea of universal emotional expressions, emphasizing how culture and context shape our feelings. The conversation explores how emotions are constructed rather than fixed biological responses. Barrett also delves into the links between emotions, cognition, and mental health, offering insights into managing our emotional experiences and reconsidering how we interpret feelings.
Emotions are not universal responses but constructed experiences shaped by culture, context, and personal history, challenging traditional views.
Understanding emotions as signals of bodily states can lead to better mental health treatments by addressing the underlying issues of emotional distress.
Deep dives
Understanding Emotion and Cognition
Emotion and cognition are two distinct yet interconnected processes in the brain. While cognitive neuroscience has garnered much research attention, emotions play a pivotal role in guiding behavior and decision-making. Emotions drive an organism's actions and responses by giving purpose to cognitive processes, suggesting that without emotions, cognition lacks direction. Affective neuroscience focuses on the study of emotions, revealing that understanding emotions is essential for a comprehensive view of brain function.
Darwin's Legacy: Evolutionary Roots of Emotions
Charles Darwin proposed that emotions are biological phenomena essential for survival, suggesting that facial expressions evolved to convey information about emotional states. For instance, an angry individual might exhibit physical cues, like tensing their muscles, preparing for potential action. This evolutionary perspective posits that emotional expressions are conserved across species, indicating a universal understanding of basic emotions. However, this view faces challenges when considering individual variations in emotional responses and expressions.
The Shift in Understanding Emotions
Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges the classical view of emotions as biologically hardwired responses, proposing that emotions are constructed experiences shaped by culture, context, and personal history. Her research indicates that emotions are not universal; rather, they emerge from how the brain interprets bodily signals in various situations. For example, the response to anger can vary significantly among individuals, influenced by past experiences and specific contexts rather than a fixed emotional circuit. This perspective calls for a reevaluation of how emotions are understood and measured across different populations.
Implications for Mental Health and Emotional Regulation
Barrett's framework suggests that understanding emotions as constructed rather than pre-programmed can significantly influence mental health treatments. Emotional experiences, including depression and anxiety, can be viewed through the lens of bodily regulation, where feelings indicative of distress might simply signal underlying metabolic or situational challenges. This understanding allows individuals to reflect on the root causes of their feelings, promoting better emotional management. Consequently, recognizing the narrative nature of emotions can empower individuals to reinterpret their emotional responses and enhance their emotional well-being.
Are emotions something that happen to you, or are they bodily signals we interpret? Does everyone show emotions in the same way -- that is, are there particular markers of the face or the body that always mean anger, sadness, or joy? And what does this have to do with Charles Darwin, the truth about facial expressions, or the movie Inside Out? Join Eagleman with this week's guest, neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, author of hundreds of papers and "How Emotions are Made", for a deep dive into the truth about our feelings.
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