A Neuroscientist Explains the Truth of Emotional Intelligence
We have a lot more say when it comes to our emotional lives.
I’m an emotional person. Both professionally and personally. I earned a PhD in the neuroscience and psychology of emotions, a very specific, and prolonged, educational trajectory preempted by my rather emotional years as a teenager and young adult. Thinking back, it was the experience of emotions that did it for me — how they amazed, surprised, and scared the hell out of me all at once. They continue to have this effect on me.
The bewildering nature of emotions — what they are, why we have them, how they arise, what we do with them — is an endless game of introspective cat and mouse. Scientists have come a long way in getting to the bottom of some of these questions. Chief among these researchers is Lisa Feldman Barrett, distinguished professor of psychology at Northeastern University.
In the complex tapestry of emotions and the human mind, Feldman Barrett introduces us to an analogy that bridges baking cakes and constructing emotional experiences. This seemingly unconventional comparison says a lot about our emotional experiences and emotional intelligence, in particular. It challenges traditional ideas and empowers individuals to take control of their emotional realities.
The “Core Ingredients” Analogy
Picture yourself in a kitchen, ready to bake a cake. Flour, sugar, eggs, and butter–these are the core ingredients that when combined skillfully, yield a diverse array of delectable treats. Barrett extends this analogy to the realm of neuroscience, introducing the concept of “core ingredients” within the brain. These essential elements come together in unique ways to give rise to the kaleidoscope of emotions we experience–joy, anger, sadness, and more.
Drawing from the idea of degeneracy, Barrett underscores that different instances of the same emotion are not governed by fixed circuits. Just as a skilled baker can create diverse confections from the same core ingredients, the brain crafts various emotions by blending core systems in different combinations.
The Implications for Emotional Intelligence
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Barrett’s perspective lies in its challenge to the established belief that emotions are hardwired, uncontrollable reactions. In contrast, she unveils emotions as dynamic constructs shaped by sensory inputs, past experiences, and cultural influences.
Emotional intelligence, traditionally associated with recognizing and managing emotions, takes on a new dimension through Barrett’s cake-baking lens. Rather than being passive recipients of emotions, we emerge as architects, bakers if you will, of our emotional realities. Barrett’s analogy dismantles the idea of emotion circuits prewired in our brains. Instead, it highlights the brain’s predictive nature, where emotions emerge as products of intricate neural processes and learned associations.
Embracing Personal Agency
This difference in how we think about emotions has far-reaching implications for how individuals navigate their emotional lives. By realizing that emotions are not imposed upon us but constructed within us, we gain agency over our emotional experiences. The power to reshape emotional responses lies in recognizing the brain’s role in prediction. This understanding transforms the way we perceive and react to emotional challenges.
Consider the familiar scenario of facing a nerve-wracking test. Traditionally, anxiety might be seen as an involuntary and unchangeable response. Feldman Barrett’s perspective, however, offers a transformative insight. By reframing heightened physiological responses as energized determination, we shift the emotional narrative. This change in perception alters how we experience emotions such as how we perform under pressure. With this reframe, anxiety is now a sign of engaged readiness rather than a sign of inevitable failure and underperformance.
Emotions in the Business World
Feldman Barrett’s work has implications for businesses, too. The misguided pursuit of emotion-detection systems by tech companies underscores the misunderstanding of emotions as solely observable in facial expressions or physical movements.
Feldman Barrett’s perspective highlights that emotions are rife with context and interpretation. By aligning technology with the brain’s predictive nature, a more nuanced understanding of human emotion can be fostered.
No longer are we at the mercy of emotions; we are the architects shaping our emotional realities and building technologies to capitalize on our experiences–hopefully for good. This shift in perspective empowers us to navigate emotional landscapes with intention and skill. Embracing the brain’s predictive and constructivist nature, we harness the power of emotional intelligence to craft meaningful and authentic emotional experiences.
BY NICK HOBSON, CHIEF BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST, APEX SCORING SOLUTIONS, BAD SCIENCES AT POTENTIAL PROJECT