
Lisa Feldman Barrett
A revolutionary book that redefines emotions as constructed experiences shaped by the brain, body, and culture.
Lisa Feldman Barrett's theory of constructed emotion has influenced not only psychology but also artificial intelligence and emotion-sensing technology.
Section 1
8 Sections
Imagine a world where your emotions are as unique as your fingerprint, but not because they’re hardwired into your biology—instead, they are crafted moment by moment, shaped by your history, your culture, and the world around you.
Let’s begin our journey by stepping into the shoes of a scientist, searching for the elusive fingerprints of emotion. Decades of studies, using electrodes, cameras, and brain scans, set out to prove that each emotion has its own signature in the face, body, or brain. Yet, the evidence tells a different story.
Consider the example of a governor’s wavering voice during a speech about tragedy. Some in the audience wept, others felt a knot in their stomach, while some felt a surge of resolve. The same event, the same moment, and yet, each person’s brain constructed a different emotional reality.
Even across cultures, the diversity grows richer. What one society labels as 'anger,' another may see as 'shame' or 'disappointment.' The famous studies that claimed to find universal emotional expressions often relied on giving people a list of words to choose from—priming them with the answers. When those clues were removed, agreement vanished, and people saw not emotions, but actions: laughing, looking, turning away.
In this light, emotions become a dance between our bodies, our brains, and our social worlds. They are not fixed statues, but living, shifting performances.
As we move forward, we’ll explore how the brain constructs these experiences, how our internal sensations become feelings, and how words and concepts give shape to the chaos of sensation. Embrace the idea that your emotions are yours to make—crafted, not given. Next, let’s dive into the mysterious world inside: how your brain turns the signals of your body into the river of feelings that colors every moment of your life.
7 more insights available in app
Unlock all 8 sections, 8 insights, full audio, and interactive mind map in the SnapBooks app.
Discover the hidden truth about emotions that will change how you see yourself—and everyone else.
Read articleUnlocking the mysteries of your emotional brain for a happier, healthier you.
Read article