Lisa Feldman Barrett


Full Name and Common Aliases


Lisa Feldman Barrett is a renowned American psychologist, neuroscientist, and science writer.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on November 20, 1959 (still active in her work), there is no recorded date of death.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Barrett holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada. She is a professor of psychology at Northeastern University and has previously held positions at Tufts University's Institute for Medical Research and University of Toronto.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Barrett developed an interest in science and social sciences early on. Her childhood curiosity about human emotions laid the foundation for her future work in psychology and neuroscience.

Major Accomplishments


Barrett has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of emotion research. She is a leading proponent of the theory that emotions are not innate but rather constructed by the brain through various cognitive processes. Her work challenges traditional views on emotions and their neural basis, revolutionizing our understanding of human emotional experiences.

Notable Works or Actions


Some of her notable works include:

"How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain" (2017), a comprehensive guide to emotion science that explores how the brain constructs emotions.
Research on the theory of constructed emotion, which suggests that emotions are not innate but rather a product of cognitive and neural processes.

Impact and Legacy


Lisa Feldman Barrett's work has had far-reaching implications for fields such as psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and education. Her theories have influenced the development of new therapeutic approaches and educational programs focused on emotional intelligence and well-being. She continues to be an influential voice in the scientific community, inspiring future generations of researchers and thinkers.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Lisa Feldman Barrett is widely quoted and remembered for her groundbreaking contributions to emotion science. Her work has sparked significant discussions about the nature of emotions and their impact on human behavior. As a pioneering scientist and passionate advocate for emotional understanding, she remains an essential figure in shaping our comprehension of human experiences.

Her quotes have been featured in various publications and media outlets, offering insightful perspectives on emotions, neuroscience, and the intersection of science and society. Through her work, Barrett continues to inspire readers to think critically about emotions and their role in shaping our lives.

Quotes by Lisa Feldman Barrett

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Due process was about avoiding procedural errors in rendering a decision of guilt or innocence, not about the validity of the decision itself.
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I’ve said several times that the brain acts like a scientist. It forms hypotheses through prediction and tests them against the “data” of sensory input. It corrects its predictions by way of prediction error, like a scientist adjusts his or her hypotheses in the face of contrary evidence. When the brain’s predictions match the sensory input, this constitutes a model of the world in that instant, just like a scientist judges that a correct hypothesis is the path to scientific certainty.
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Social reality is not just about words – it gets under your skin. If you perceive the same baked good as a decadent “cupcake” or a healthful “muffin,” research suggests that your body metabolizes it differently. Likewise, the words and concepts of your culture help to shape your brain wiring and your physical changes during emotion.24.
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But one thing is certain: every day in America, thousands of people appear before a jury of their peers and hope they will be judged fairly, when in reality they are judged by human brains that always perceive the world from a self-interested point of view. To believe otherwise is a fiction that is not supported by the architecture of the brain.
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The human brain is a cultural artifact. We don’t load culture into a virgin brain like software loading into a computer; rather, culture helps to wire the brain. Brains then become carriers of culture, helping to create and perpetuate it.
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It is actually a policy issue relevant to the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to free speech. The First Amendment was founded on the notion that free speech produces a war of ideas, allowing truth to prevail. However, its authors did not know that culture wires the brain. Ideas get under your skin, simply by sticking around for long enough. Once an idea is hardwired, you might not be in a position to easily reject it.
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Simulations are your brain’s guesses of what’s happening in the world. In every waking moment, you’re faced with ambiguous, noisy information from your eyes, ears, nose, and other sensory organs. Your brain uses your past experiences to construct a hypothesis – the simulation – and compares it to the cacophony arriving from your senses. In this manner, simulation lets your brain impose meaning on the noise, selecting what’s relevant and ignoring the rest.
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If you want to gain mastery at perceiving other people’s emotional experiences, you must let go of this essentialist assumption.
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One illusory stripe of a rainbow contains an infinite number of frequencies, but your concepts for “Red,” “Blue,” and other colors cause your brain to ignore the variability.
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Scientific revolutions tend to emerge not from a sudden discovery but by asking better questions.
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