Constructed Emotion

Barrett posits that:

• “The theory of constructed emotion radically alters our understanding of what it means to be human.”
• “In Micronesia, the Ifaluk people view emotions as interactions among individuals.”
• “Emotions constitute a social reality, with certain Western emotional concepts entirely absent in other cultures; for instance, Tahitians lack a concept for sadness.”
• “Individuals often allocate a significant portion of their work hours to mental simulations rather than engaging with their surroundings, significantly influencing their emotional states.”
• “We are the architects of our own experiences; our brains invisibly construct every aspect of our perception, including emotions.”
• “You possess the remarkable ability to conjure entirely mental concepts that can affect your physiological state. Therefore, expand your emotional understanding and create environments that allow your brain to adapt to your social realities.”
• “Your perceptions feel so vivid that they can mislead you into believing you are experiencing the world as it truly is, when in fact, you are interacting with a version of your own creation.”

This video by Lisa Feldman Barrett emphasizes that we are not merely at the mercy of our emotions; rather, our brain is responsible for crafting them.

Mental Models

Barrett elaborates on the following:

• “Your brain develops a predictive model of the world based on previous experiences, which helps you make sense of your environment and bodily sensations.”
• “Through a continuous cycle of prediction and adjustment, your brain refines its mental model of the world.”
• “Your brain is wired for delusion; through ongoing predictions, you experience a world crafted by your own mind while remaining tethered to sensory input.”
• “Uniquely, your brain does not only predict the future; it can also imagine various futures at will, a capability not seen in other animal brains.”
• “By creating a concept and teaching it to others, you establish something that becomes real as long as they agree.”

Recategorization

Barrett describes recategorization as:

• “An essential tool for emotional expertise; the more concepts you understand, the more adept you become at recategorizing your feelings.”
• “Consider emotional categories like a variety of cookies—each category, such as happiness or guilt, contains diverse experiences.”
• “Your brain can register multiple feelings of fear, each engaging different neurons within the same network.”
• “Historically, humanity has underestimated the brain’s potential; despite only comprising 2% of body mass, it houses 86 billion neurons that perpetually stimulate one another.”

History of Emotions

Barrett notes that:

• “The term ‘emotion’ is a relatively modern invention, emerging in the 17th century; earlier texts referenced passions and sentiments with differing meanings.”
• “Historical accounts suggest that ancient Romans did not smile spontaneously; the word ‘smile’ was nonexistent in Latin.”
• “The concept of smiling evolved during the Middle Ages, gaining popularity in the 18th century as dental care became more accessible.”

Factoids

• “Chronic pain affects over 1.5 billion people globally, including 100 million in the U.S., costing around $500 billion annually in treatment.”
• “Despite 27 million Americans taking antidepressants, over 70% still experience symptoms.”
• “The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, depression will lead to more premature deaths than cancer, stroke, heart disease, warfare, and accidents combined.”
• “From 1997 to 2011, addiction to prescription drugs among U.S. adults surged by 900%, as individuals self-medicate to alleviate chronic bodily discomfort.”
• “By age four, children from affluent families have been exposed to four million more words than their counterparts from lower-income households.”