Who is Lisa Feldman Barrett?
Who is Lisa Feldman Barrett? Lisa Feldman Barrett is an American psychologist and neuroscientist. She is famous for her theory of constructed emotions , which challenges traditional ideas about how emotions work in the brain. Key Ideas for Beginners (Explained Simply) 1. Emotions are constructed , not automatic Traditional view: Emotions like anger, fear, sadness are built-in, automatic reactions that every human experiences the same way. Barrett’s view: Emotions are not automatic packages inside the brain. The brain creates emotions in the moment , based on: your past experiences your body’s physical state the situation you’re in cultural learning Example: Two people in the same situation may feel different emotions because their brains construct different meanings. 2. The brain is a “prediction machine” Barrett says the brain does not just react—it predicts what will happen next. Your brain constantly uses past experiences to guess what something means. These predictions c...