You aren't at the mercy of your emotions -- your brain creates them | Lisa Feldman Barrett

Summary

In this insightful talk, Lisa Feldman Barrett challenges the conventional understanding of emotions as innate and uncontrollable. She argues that emotions are not hardwired in our brains but are instead constructed guesses based on our experiences. Barrett, a neuroscientist, explains that our perceptions of others' emotions are rooted in predictions our brain makes, which can be influenced by cultural contexts. She emphasizes that we have more control over our emotions than we realize, encouraging us to take responsibility for our emotional experiences and to harness this understanding for a healthier life.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The speaker's lab is near the site of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, highlighting the context of their research on emotions and the legal system's reliance on perceived remorse.
• 🏥 Jurors often decide on the death penalty based on a defendant's apparent remorse, but the speaker argues that detecting emotions like remorse is not possible, challenging the traditional understanding of emotions.
• 🧠 Emotions are not hardwired in the brain; they are constructed guesses made by the brain using past experiences, contradicting the common belief of innate emotional responses.
• 🧬 Over 25 years of research, including analyzing facial expressions, physiology, and brain imaging studies, supports the idea that emotions are not pre-existing circuits in the brain.
• 🐍 The brain uses predictions based on past experiences to interpret ambiguous stimuli, such as seeing a snake in a pattern of black and white blobs.
• 🤔 Emotions are not universally expressed or recognized; they are subjective interpretations made by the brain, influenced by cultural and personal contexts.
• 🌐 Tech companies are investing in emotion-detection systems, but the speaker warns that these systems are based on a flawed premise, as emotions are not inherent in physical expressions.
• 💭 The speaker suggests that we have more control over our emotions than we think, as they are constructed by the brain and can be influenced by changing our predictions and interpretations.
• 📚 Learning to reinterpret physical sensations and predictions can lead to better emotional responses and outcomes, such as transforming test anxiety into determination.
• 🛠 By understanding that emotions are constructed, individuals can take responsibility for their emotional experiences and potentially improve their emotional well-being.
• 🌟 The message of having control over our emotions is empowering, but it also comes with the responsibility of acknowledging our role in shaping our emotional lives.

Q & A

What event is the speaker referring to when discussing the research lab's location?

The speaker is referring to the Boston Marathon bombing that occurred in 2013.

Who was the surviving bomber of the Boston Marathon bombing, and what was his fate?

The surviving bomber was Dzhokhar Tsarnaev from Chechnya. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death.

What does the speaker claim about the ability of jurors to detect remorse in a defendant?

The speaker claims that jurors, like anyone else, cannot detect remorse or any other emotion in a defendant because emotions are not universally expressed and recognized.

What is the speaker's profession, and how long have they been studying emotions?

The speaker is a scientist who has been studying emotions for the past 25 years.

What does the speaker argue about the nature of emotions and their expression on human faces?

The speaker argues that emotions are not hardwired brain reactions but are guesses constructed by the brain in the moment, and they are not universally expressed on human faces.

What does the speaker suggest about the physical movements of the human body in relation to emotions?

The speaker suggests that physical movements have no intrinsic emotional meaning and that it's the brain's predictions and the context that give them emotional significance.

What is the term used by the speaker to describe the brain's process of making sense of the world?

The speaker uses the term 'predictions' to describe the brain's process of making sense of the world.

How does the speaker describe the process of experiencing emotions?

The speaker describes the process of experiencing emotions as the brain making predictions and guesses based on past experiences and current context, constructing the emotional experience in the moment.

What is the speaker's view on the role of predictions in our emotional experiences?

The speaker believes that predictions play a crucial role in our emotional experiences, as they are the basis for every action we take and every experience we have.

How does the speaker define 'emotional intelligence in action'?

The speaker defines 'emotional intelligence in action' as the ability to change the way one's brain predicts and constructs emotional experiences, leading to better performance and outcomes in various aspects of life.

What responsibility does the speaker suggest we have regarding our emotions?

The speaker suggests that since we have more control over our emotions than we think, we also have the responsibility for our emotional experiences and the consequences of our actions.