The history of human emotions | Tiffany Watt Smith

Summary

The speaker explores the complexity of human emotions, challenging the simplistic view that emotions are universal and fixed. They argue that emotions are shaped by culture, language, and history, offering examples like nostalgia and unique feelings such as the Japanese concept 'amae' or the French word 'dépaysement.' Through stories and psychological insights, the talk emphasizes how understanding the origins and evolution of emotional language can deepen emotional intelligence, suggesting that emotions are influenced by social, cultural, and historical forces that continue to evolve today.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Emotions are complex and often difficult to pinpoint, as they can overlap, change quickly, or be hard to name.
• 💭 The concept of emotions has evolved over time, with historical beliefs and cultural influences shaping how we understand and experience emotions today.
• 🌍 Different cultures have unique emotional words, reflecting their values and societal structures, such as the Dutch 'gezelligheid' or the Japanese 'amae'.
• 💡 Emotional intelligence is not just about recognizing emotions but understanding their cultural and historical context.
• 📖 Learning new emotional words can expand our emotional awareness and even change how we experience certain feelings.
• 🔄 Emotions are shaped by both biology and cognitive factors, influenced by language, thoughts, and societal norms.
• 🕰️ Historical shifts, like the change in how homesickness ('nostalgia') was perceived, show that emotions are influenced by broader cultural and technological developments.
• 💬 Naming and understanding emotions are crucial in today's society, where emotions are used by politicians, algorithms, and businesses for various purposes.
• 🤔 The idea that emotions are universal and hardwired (e.g., happiness, sadness, anger) is oversimplified; emotions are deeply tied to context and meaning.
• 🎭 True emotional intelligence requires awareness of how emotions have been historically constructed and are constantly changing, shaped by social, political, and cultural forces.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial experiment about?

The speaker asked the audience to close their eyes and reflect on the emotions they were feeling at that moment, to see how easy or difficult it was to pinpoint specific emotions.

What does the speaker suggest about how emotions are typically experienced?

The speaker suggests that emotions are often complex and intertwined, with multiple emotions crowding together, making it hard to distinguish between them. Some emotions are fleeting, while others linger or are more intense.

What is 'ilinx' and how does it relate to emotions?

'Ilinx' is described as the feeling of delirium that comes from minor acts of chaos. It's an example of an emotion that people might experience but may not easily recognize or name.

Why does the speaker believe that emotions are influenced by culture and history?

The speaker argues that emotions are shaped by both biological factors and cultural context, including language, social norms, and historical changes. Emotions are not just reflexes but cognitive phenomena influenced by the world around us.

What is the significance of the word 'nostalgia' in the context of the talk?

'Nostalgia' originally referred to homesickness so intense it could be fatal, as in the 17th century. The meaning of the word has shifted over time, and homesickness is no longer viewed as life-threatening in modern culture.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between emotions and language?

The speaker, referencing neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, explains that language helps shape our emotional experience. Learning new words for emotions can lead to new feelings, as emotions are partly constructed by our thoughts and concepts.

What example does the speaker give of an emotion that is influenced by cultural differences?

The speaker mentions 'amae' from Japan, which refers to the pleasure of temporarily handing over responsibility to someone else. This emotion is celebrated in Japan’s collectivist culture but might be less familiar in cultures that value individualism.

What does the word 'dépaysement' mean and how does the speaker relate to it?

'Dépaysement' is a French word describing the feeling of disorientation when in an unfamiliar place. The speaker enjoys this feeling when working as a historian, as it allows them to see familiar things in a new, strange way.

What does the speaker suggest about historical changes in how emotions are valued?

The speaker notes that emotions like sadness were once valued in the 16th century for building resilience, whereas modern society celebrates happiness. This shift reflects broader cultural changes in how emotions are perceived and valued.

What point does the speaker make about teaching emotional intelligence today?

The speaker argues that true emotional intelligence requires understanding the historical, social, and political forces that shape our emotions. This deeper understanding helps us see how emotions evolve over time and how they might be changing now.