How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain

Super Short Summary

In How Emotions Are Made, Lisa Feldman Barrett argues that emotions are constructed by the brain’s predictive processes based on past experiences, external stimuli, bodily functions, and learned concepts, challenging the classical view that emotions are universally felt, automatically triggered, and tied to specific brain regions. She discusses the moral and legal implications of this theory, emphasizes the role of interoception, and explores the influence of culture and language on emotional experience. The book also considers the application of these ideas in mental health and law.