Feldman Barrett

Lisa Feldman Barrett is a renowned psychologist and neuroscientist known for her research on emotions. She challenges traditional ideas by suggesting that emotions are not universal, automatic responses but are actually constructed by our brains based on past experiences, context, and social cues. In other words, emotions are like mental "categories" we create to interpret what’s happening around us and within us. This perspective helps explain why people may experience or express emotions differently across situations and cultures, emphasizing the brain’s active role in shaping emotional experience rather than emotions being hardwired or automatic.