How to see clearly through deceptive emotions | Kristen Lindquist

Neuroscientist Kristen Lindquist on how even on a biological level, emotions are entirely subjective.

According to this neuroscientist, your emotions look different from those of someone who grew up on the other side of the world.

Kristen Lindquist, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, explores the concept of 'affective realism,' where our emotional experiences dictate our true reality. Emotions, Lindquist explains, are cultural artifacts, passed down like art or language, and are distinct reflections of both our biological makeup and our societal norms.

Individualistic societies like the United States and collectivist cultures like Japan interpret emotions like anger differently, leading to varied physiological responses. These findings suggest that there are no “universal emotional expressions,” that even facial muscle movements we associate with certain feelings are not globally recognized, but are instead interpreted through a cultural lens.

Lindquist's work invites us to consider our own emotional responses, encouraging a more open-minded approach to interpreting the feelings of others. Through this understanding, we can appreciate the unique perspectives each individual brings, to eventually unlock better solutions for understanding the world around us.

We created this video in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators.

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About Kristen Lindquist:

Kristen Lindquist, PhD. is a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her research seeks to understand the psychological and neural basis of emotions, moods, and feelings. Her on-going work uses tools from social cognition, physiology, neuroscience, and big data methods to examine how emotions emerge from the confluence of the body, brain, and culture.

[_MrJA]

"Check yo' self before you wreck yo' self" is the best advice ever regarding emotions.

[emilyemr]

The space between what you feel and how you react is your destiny. Learn to control how you react to your feelings.

[hoykoya]

Statements "I am sad" and "Sadness is upon me" pertain to the same experience but have different effects on how we perceive it. The former statement tells that YOU ARE SAD and you cannot do anything about it. The latter suggests that you are just an observer of the experience of sadness. The latter is being aware and is very powerful.

[spirunk]

Empathy, listening, hugs, smiles, support, respectful gestures, patience, forgiveness. The best gifts you can give to anyone belonging to any culture or ethnicity. We can do it🙂💙

[ingrid_K]

I hope it helps others too!
Emotions come from thoughts. The first step is to think, and the second step is the emotions. Without thinking we can't have emotions!!!!
Be wiser about what you think and how you think; you will be happy! 😊

[DmitriyOleynik]

I cannot recommend enough book "How Emotions are Made" by Lisa Feldman Barret for a deeper dive into that topic

[KawtharFarhat-mr]

The distinction between individualism and collectivism is really a interesting addition to this video. Both have their difficulties and strengths. It is a difficult transition but not impossible. I have to say, individualism is incredibly lonesome, seemingly unnecessarily so. I’m still trying to work that out. It doesn’t have to be cold prioritizing ourselves.

[JoslynShakur-ep]

Thats why its important to have and be knowledgable about the situation at hand. Education over emotions. Choose Education

[dlsolof]

Love this! As someone who studied anthropology and socio-cultural linguistics, there really is a vastness to human experience, and how we perceive those experiences. We do the best we can with our limited understanding to try to make sense of what might be going on with other people.

[ahmetunaa]

I was listening this video with my head-phones and realized that at 1:58, her inhaling breath was clearly discrete :) and now I admired her x3 times more because I see how skillfully she is controlling her excitement and can be capable to stay relax and focusing the subject too 🙏🙏💫

[apextroll]

It is not facts over feelings, but feeling help to form facts.

[PhillipSmith-ne]

Love the individualism vs collectivism argument. Great video.

[nicholasmitchell]

Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, Marshall Rosenberg...

Our emotions serve as finger posts to our needs/values being met, either in that context, or an historical one.

Sometimes our environment can stimulate emotions that has no relevance to the situation in front or around us.

This is the source of our vulnerability or irrationality.

In this experience I find the best step forward is to merely acknowledge the emotions being experienced.

It's been my greatest leap forward to simply pause for thought and say to myself, "I feel really angry right now".

[Hondeer]

My mom went to the ER with palpitations. They said the same thing, anxiety. Three weeks later, happened again. Emergency surgery for a stint. She's happy and healthy again.

[kaylastewart]

I am so glad I stumbled upon this. Particularly the section on facial muscles movements. As an English speaker from the western world, whenever I first started watching K and C dramas, I observed that the way they would emote was a little off/differently than what I would expect from watching a western/English show. This all helps it make more sense.

[singhmaster]

This is hands down the most intellectual channel on YouTube. Never disappoints. It is run by educated and intelligent people. I wish I can afford your paid subscription, but i cant at the moment. I know it will be a good choice.

[rookhoatzin]

Emotions work like the sensors on a car creating a "feedback loop" that not only informs us subjectively of how we are feeling but acts on an autonomic level influencing hormone production, heart rate, digestion, all sorts of other physiological functions. Emotions are a primary influence of body functions, not just attitude but many aspects of general health/wellbeing. Emotional control is perhaps the best tool we have to affect our health directly.

[gurup]

One of the best BT talks I've ever listened to

[IncreasedIQ]

A lot of people were driven by their emotions (more than anything fear) during covid rather than facts. Very important topic

[robynmeyer]

Often “deceptive emotions” occur when we are in a safe place. ..rather common for trauma victims who are beginning to heal and have repressed emotions.
It’s important to understand if the emotion relates to past, present or future thoughts.