How Emotions Are Made : The Secret Life of the Brain

'How Emotions Are Made did what all great books do. It took a subject I thought I understood & turned my understanding upside down' - Malcolm GladwellWhen you feel anxious, angry, happy, or surprised, what's really going on inside of you?Many scientists believe that emotions come from a specific part of the brain, triggered by the world around us. The thrill of seeing an old friend, the fear of losing someone we love - each of these sensations seems to arise automatically & uncontrollably from within us, finding expression on our faces & in our behaviour, carrying us away with the experience.This understanding of emotion has been around since Plato. But what if it is wrong? In How Emotions Are Made, pioneering psychologist & neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett draws on the latest scientific evidence to reveal that our common-sense ideas about emotions are dramatically, even dangerously, out of date - & that we have been paying the price. Emotions aren't universally pre-programmed in our brains & bodies; rather they are psychological experiences that each of us constructs based on our unique personal history, physiology & environment.This new view of emotions has serious implications: when judges issue lesser sentences for crimes of passion, when police officers fire at threatening suspects, or when doctors choose between one diagnosis & another, they're all, in some way, relying on the ancient assumption that emotions are hardwired into our brains & bodies. Revising that conception of emotion isn't just good science, Barrett shows; it's vital to our well-being & the health of society itself.°°° Using laboratory experiments, experience sampling, ambulatory physiological monitoring, brain scanning, & cross-cultural field studies of the Himba & Hadza in Africa, Barrett’s scientific discoveries lay the foundation for understanding how a single human brain architecture creates many kinds of human minds. A New Theory Of How The Brain Constructs Emotions That Could Revolutionize Psychology, Health Care, Law Enforcement, And Our Understanding Of The Human Mind. Emotions Feel Automatic, Like Uncontrollable Reactions To Things We Think And Experience. Scientists Have Long Supported This Assumption By Claiming That Emotions Are Hardwired In The Body Or The Brain. Today, However, The Science Of Emotion Is In The Midst Of A Revolution On Par With The Discovery Of Relativity In Physics And Natural Selection In Biology--ans This Paradigm Shift Has Far-reaching Implications For Us All. Leading The Charge Is Psychologist And Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, Whose Theory Of Emotion Is Driving A Deeper Understanding Of The Mind And Brain, And Shedding New Light On What It Means To Be Human. Her Research Overturns The Widely Held Belief That Emotions Are Housed In Different Parts Of The Brain And Are Universally Expressed And Recognized. Instead, She Has Shown That Emotion Is Constructed In The Moment, By Core Systems That Interact Across The Whole Brain, Aided By A Lifetime Of Learning. This New Theory Means That You Play A Much Greater Role In Your Emotional Life Than You Ever Thought. Its Repercussions Are Already Shaking The Foundations Not Only Of Psychology But Also Of Medicine, The Legal System, Child-rearing, Meditation, And Even Airport Security. Why Do Emotions Feel Automatic? Does Rational Thought Really Control Emotion? How Does Emotion Affect Disease? How Can You Make Your Children More Emotionally Intelligent? How Emotions Are Made Answers These Questions And Many More, Revealing The Latest Research And Intriguing Practical Applications Of The New Science Of Emotion, Mind, And Brain-- The Two-thousand-year-old Assumption -- The Search For Emotion's Fingerprints -- Emotions Are Constructed -- The Myth Of Universal Emotions -- The Origin Of Feeling -- Concepts, Goals, And Words -- How The Brain Makes Emotions -- Emotions As Social Reality -- A New View Of Human Nature -- Mastering Your Emotions -- Emotion And Illness -- Emotion And The Law -- Is A Growling Dog Angry? -- From Brain To Mind : The New Frontier -- Appendix A. Brain Basics -- Appendix B. Supplement For Chapter 2 -- Appendix C. Supplement For Chapter 3 -- Appendix D. Evidence For The Concept Cascade. Lisa Feldman Barrett. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "A new theory of how the brain constructs emotions that could revolutionize psychology, health care, the legal system, and our understanding of the human mind. Emotions feel automatic, like uncontrollable reactions to things we think and experience. Scientists have long supported this assumption by claiming that emotions are hardwired in the body or the brain. Today, however, the science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology--and this paradigm shift has far-reaching implications for us all. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose theory of emotion is driving a deeper understanding of the mind and brain, and shedding new light on what it means to be human. Her research overturns the widely held belief that emotions are housed in different parts of the brain and are universally expressed and recognized. Instead, she has shown that emotion is constructed in the moment, by core systems that interact across the whole brain, aided by a lifetime of learning. This new theory means that you play a much greater role in your emotional life than you ever thought. Its repercussions are already shaking the foundations not only of psychology but also of medicine, the legal system, child-rearing, meditation, and even airport security. Why do emotions feel automatic? Does rational thought really control emotion? How does emotion affect disease? How can you make your children more emotionally intelligent? How Emotions Are Made answers these questions and many more, revealing the latest research and intriguing practical applications of the new science of emotion, mind, and brain."-- Provided by publisher "A new theory of how the brain constructs emotions that could revolutionize psychology, health care, law enforcement, and our understanding of the human mind Emotions feel automatic, like uncontrollable reactions to things we think and experience. Scientists have long supported this assumption by claiming that emotions are hardwired in the body or the brain. Today, however, the science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology--and this paradigm shift has far-reaching implications for us all. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose theory of emotion is driving a deeper understanding of the mind and brain, and shedding new light on what it means to be human. Her research overturns the widely held belief that emotions are housed in different parts of the brain and are universally expressed and recognized. Instead, she has shown that emotion is constructed in the moment, by core systems that interact across the whole brain, aided by a lifetime of learning. This new theory means that you play a much greater role in your emotional life than you ever thought. Its repercussions are already shaking the foundations not only of psychology but also of medicine, the legal system, child-rearing, meditation, and even airport security. Why do emotions feel automatic? Does rational thought really control emotion? How does emotion affect disease? How can you make your children more emotionally intelligent? How Emotions Are Made answers these questions and many more, revealing the latest research and intriguing practical applications of the new science of emotion, mind, and brain"-- Provided by publisher "A new theory of how the brain constructs emotions that could revolutionize psychology, health care, law enforcement, and our understanding of the human mind. Emotions feel automatic, like uncontrollable reactions to things we think and experience. Scientists have long supported this assumption by claiming that emotions are hardwired in the body or the brain. Today, however, the science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology--ans this paradigm shift has far-reaching implications for us all. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose theory of emotion is driving a deeper understanding of the mind and brain, and shedding new light on what it means to be human. Her research overturns the widely held belief that emotions are housed in different parts of the brain and are universally expressed and recognized. Instead, she has shown that emotion is constructed in the moment, by core systems that interact across the whole brain, aided by a lifetime of learning. This new theory means that you play a much greater role in your emotional life than you ever thought. Its repercussions are already shaking the foundations not only of psychology but also of medicine, the legal system, child-rearing, meditation, and even airport security. Why do emotions feel automatic? Does rational thought really control emotion? How does emotion affect disease? How can you make your children more emotionally intelligent? How Emotions Are Madeanswers these questions and many more, revealing the latest research and intriguing practical applications of the new science of emotion, mind, and brain"-- Provided by publisher ' How Emotions Are Made did what all great books do. It took a subject I thought I understood and turned my understanding upside down' - Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point . When you feel anxious, angry, happy, or surprised, what's really going on inside of you? Many scientists believe that emotions come from a specific part of the brain, triggered by the world around us. The thrill of seeing an old friend, the fear of losing someone we love – each of these sensations seems to arise automatically and uncontrollably from within us, finding expression on our faces and in our behaviour, carrying us away with the experience. This understanding of emotion has been around since Plato. But what if it is wrong? In How Emotions Are Made , pioneering psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett draws on the latest scientific evidence to reveal that our common-sense ideas about emotions are dramatically, even dangerously, out of date – and that we have been paying the price. Emotions aren't universally pre-programmed in our brains and bodies; rather they are psychological experiences that each of us constructs based on our unique personal history, physiology and environment. This new view of emotions has serious implications: when judges issue lesser sentences for crimes of passion, when police officers fire at threatening suspects, or when doctors choose between one diagnosis and another, they're all, in some way, relying on the ancient assumption that emotions are hardwired into our brains and bodies. Revising that conception of emotion isn't just good science, Barrett shows; it's vital to our well-being and the health of society itself. **'__How Emotions Are Made__ did what all great books do. It took a subject I thought I understood and turned my understanding upside down' - Malcolm Gladwell** When you feel anxious, angry, happy, or surprised, what's really going on inside of you? Many scientists believe that emotions come from a specific part of the brain, triggered by the world around us. The thrill of seeing an old friend, the fear of losing someone we love - each of these sensations seems to arise automatically and uncontrollably from within us, finding expression on our faces and in our behaviour, carrying us away with the experience. This understanding of emotion has been around since Plato. But what if it is wrong? In __How Emotions Are Made__, pioneering psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett draws on the latest scientific evidence to reveal that our common-sense ideas about emotions are dramatically, even dangerously, out of date - and that we have been paying the price. Emotions aren't universally pre-programmed in our brains and bodies; rather they are psychological experiences that each of us constructs based on our unique personal history, physiology and environment. This new view of emotions has serious implications: when judges issue lesser sentences for crimes of passion, when police officers fire at threatening suspects, or when doctors choose between one diagnosis and another, they're all, in some way, relying on the ancient assumption that emotions are hardwired into our brains and bodies. Revising that conception of emotion isn't just good science, Barrett shows; it's vital to our well-being and the health of society itself. 'fascinating . . . A Thought-provoking Journey Into Emotion Science' The Wall Street Journal When You Feel Anxious, Angry, Happy, Or Surprised, What's Really Going On Inside Of You? Many Scientists Believe That Emotions Come From A Specific Part Of The Brain, Triggered By The World Around Us. The Thrill Of Seeing An Old Friend, The Fear Of Losing Someone We Love - Each Of These Sensations Seems To Arise Automatically And Uncontrollably From Within Us, Finding Expression On Our Faces And In Our Behaviour, Carrying Us Away With The Experience. This Understanding Of Emotion Has Been Around Since Plato. But What If It Is Wrong? In How Emotions Are Made, Pioneering Psychologist And Neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett Draws On The Latest Scientific Evidence To Reveal That Our Common-sense Ideas About Emotions Are Dramatically, Even Dangerously, Out Of Date - And That We Have Been Paying The Price. Emotions Aren't Universally Pre-programmed In Our Brains And Bodies; Rather They Are Psychological Experiences That Each Of Us Constructs Based On Our Unique Personal History, Physiology And Environment. This New View Of Emotions Has Serious Implications: When Judges Issue Lesser Sentences For Crimes Of Passion, When Police Officers Fire At Threatening Suspects, Or When Doctors Choose Between One Diagnosis And Another, They're All, In Some Way, Relying On The Ancient Assumption That Emotions Are Hardwired Into Our Brains And Bodies. Revising That Conception Of Emotion Isn't Just Good Science, Barrett Shows; It's Vital To Our Well-being And The Health Of Society Itself. Preeminent psychologist Lisa Barrett lays out how the brain constructs emotions in a way that could revolutionize psychology, health care, the legal system, and our understanding of the human mind. “Fascinating . . . A thought-provoking journey into emotion science.”—The Wall Street Journal “A singular book, remarkable for the freshness of its ideas and the boldness and clarity with which they are presented.”—Scientific American “A brilliant and original book on the science of emotion, by the deepest thinker about this topic since Darwin.”—Daniel Gilbert, best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness The science of emotion is in the midst of a revolution on par with the discovery of relativity in physics and natural selection in biology. Leading the charge is psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett, whose research overturns the long-standing belief that emotions are automatic, universal, and hardwired in different brain regions. Instead, Barrett shows, we construct each instance of emotion through a unique interplay of brain, body, and culture. A lucid report from the cutting edge of emotion science, How Emotions Are Made reveals the profound real-world consequences of this breakthrough for everything from neuroscience and medicine to the legal system and even national security, laying bare the immense implications of our latest and most intimate scientific revolution. When you feel anxious, angry, happy, or surprised, what's really going on inside you? Most scientists would agree that emotions come from specific parts of the brain, and that we feel them whenever they're triggered by the world around us. The thrill of seeing an old friend, the sadness of a tear-jerker movie, the fear of losing someone you love - - and that we have been paying the price. Emotions don't exist objectively in nature, Barrett explains, and they aren't pre-programmed in our brains and bodies; rather, they are psychological experiences that each of us constructs based on our unique personal history, physiology and environment. This new view of emotions has serious implications: when judges issue lesser sentences for crimes of passion, when police officers fire at threatening suspects, or when doctors choose between one diagnosis and another, they're all, in some way, relying on the ancient assumption that emotions are hardwired into our brains and bodies. Revising that conception of emotion isn't just good science, Barrett shows; it's vital to our wellbeing and the health of society itself The Search for Emotions Fingerprints ..............1 Emotions Are Constructed ..............25 The Myth of Universal Emotions ..............42 The Origin of Feeling ..............56 Concepts Goals and Words ..............84 How the Brain Makes Emotions ..............112 Emotions as Social Reality ..............128 A New View of Human Nature ..............152