How Emotions Are Made

How Emotions Are Made by Lisa Feldman Barrett presents a groundbreaking theory that challenges the widely accepted understanding of emotions. Instead of being hardwired and universal, Barrett argues that emotions are constructed by our brains based on our individual experiences, culture, and context. This book delves into the science behind these claims, presenting compelling evidence that emotions are not inherent reactions but learned processes influenced by various factors.

When you feel anxious, angry, happy, or surprised, what's really going on inside of you? Many scientists believe that emotions originate from specific parts of the brain, triggered by external stimuli. The joy of reuniting with an old friend or the fear of losing a loved one - these sensations appear to emerge automatically and uncontrollably, manifesting in our expressions and actions, sweeping us away with their intensity.

This understanding of emotion has long roots, dating back to 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the latest scientific evidence to reveal that our common-sense ideas about emotions are dramatically, even dangerously, out of date. Emotions aren't universally pre-programmed in our brains and bodies; rather, they are psychological experiences we each construct based on our unique personal history, physiology, and environment.

This new perspective on emotions has profound implications. When judges issue lighter sentences for crimes of passion, when police officers shoot at threatening suspects, or when doctors make crucial diagnostic decisions, they all rely on the ancient assumption that emotions are hardwired into our brains and bodies. Revising that conception of emotion isn't just good science, Barrett demonstrates; it's essential for our well-being and the health of society itself.

Praised by Daniel Gilbert, author of the bestseller Stumbling on Happiness, as "the deepest thinker about this topic since Darwin," and hailed as a "Fascinating . . . thought-provoking journey into emotion science" by The Wall Street Journal, How Emotions Are Made is a meticulous, well-researched, and deeply thoughtful book. Andrew Solomon, bestselling author of Far From the Tree and The Noonday Demon, commends it as a treasure for anyone who has struggled to reconcile brain and heart, as it explains the science without short-changing the human aspects of its subject.

Rich with scientific insights and practical implications, How Emotions Are Made is a vital read for anyone interested in understanding the complexity of human emotions and the potential impact of this new understanding on our society and personal lives.