Psychology Archives

Lisa Feldman Barrett: “Emotions Don’t Happen to You”

What does Lisa Feldman Barrett say about emotions? How can it help you better understand your own emotions? According to neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett, emotions don’t simply happen to you, rather they are constructed by you depending on your past experiences. Barrett has spent years studying emotions in the human brain, publishing her book, How Emotions Are Made, to share her findings. Keep reading for Lisa Feldman Barrett’s surprising explanation of how you create your own emotions.

Cultural Differences in Emotions: Do We All “Feel” the Same?

Are there cultural differences in emotions? How does your culture shape your emotions? Are some emotions unique to certain cultures? Lisa Feldman Barrett says emotions don’t necessarily cross borders—cultural differences shape how you experience and express emotions. According to Barrett, universal emotions are mostly a myth because the experiments they’re based on were flawed. Keep reading to learn why there are cultural differences in emotions, according to Barrett’s research.

Martin Seligman: Optimism Can Be Learned

Can optimism be learned? How can you learn to be optimistic? What is Martin Seligman’s advice? According to Martin Seligman, optimism means having an empowered and confident mindset. Seligman says you can learn to be optimistic just like you learn a new skill—through practice and dedication. Keep reading to find out how you can learn to be optimistic, according to Seligman’s advice.

Plan for the Worst, Hope for the Best: The Power of Plan B

Why Having No Hope for the Future Causes Depression

Do you always have a plan B? Why is it important to plan for the worst and hope for the best, as the popular adage goes? Most of us tend to underestimate the likelihood of the worst-case scenario, thinking that the chances of it coming to pass are slim to none. As a result, we fail to make contingency plans, and if the worst does come to pass, panic ensues because we’re not prepared to face it. Here’s why you should always plan for the worst-case scenario, no matter how unlikely it seems.

Feelings and Emotions: Psychologically They’re Different

How are feelings and emotions psychologically different? How do experts explain this difference? Neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett wrote the book How Emotions Are Made after years of psychological research. Feelings and emotions are two distinct concepts, according to Barrett, and understanding the difference could help you feel better, mentally and physically. Keep reading for Barrett’s explanation of why feelings and emotions are psychologically different.

How to Stimulate Creative Decision-Making

What is the most effective way to stimulate the creative process? How does introducing constraints help you come up with more creative ideas? You’d think that the best way to come up with a creative solution is to brainstorm as many options as you can. While the brainstorming strategy is good, it may not always be viable. In some cases, the problem is having too many options with none being appealing. If that’s the case, try eliminating options. Here’s how eliminating options can help stimulate creative-decision making.

Anxiety Is a Habit—And It Needs to Be Broken

What is anxiety? Why is anxiety a habit? In Unwinding Anxiety, Dr. Judson Brewer explains that anxiety should be seen as a bad habit. This is because it creates a vicious cycle of behaviors that is difficult to break. Continue reading to learn why anxiety is a habit.

Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism: Overview

What is Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism book about? What are the most important takeaways from the book? Martin Seligman wrote Learned Optimism after extensively studying what causes people to feel powerless in life. The book primarily teaches readers why pessimism can lead to mental health problems and how to escape a pessimistic mindset. Read on for a brief overview of Martin Seligman’s book Learned Optimism, including the key takeaways.

Rewarding Good Behavior: Is It Helping or Harming Kids?

Should you reward children’s good behavior while punishing bad behavior? Does rewarding good behavior help or harm kids in the long run? Author Alfie Kohn cautions that it’s easy for parents to forget about long-term goals when busy or overwhelmed, instead shifting their focus to whether or not a child is being “good” or “bad” at any given moment. Kohn says creating a system of rewards and punishments leads to potentially harmful outcomes in children. Read on to learn Kohn’s advice about rewarding good behavior, including his examples of rewards for children.

The Interoceptive Sense: A Little-Known Yet Powerful Tool

What is the interoceptive sense, according to psychology? Why is your interoceptive sense important? How can you strengthen it? The interoceptive sense is a powerful tool for understanding and coping with your own and others’ emotions, according to neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett. Barrett believes this little-known sense impacts your mental wellbeing more than most people realize. Read on for Barrett’s definition of the interoceptive sense, including why it’s important to strengthen it.