Emotions

The 'Emotions' episode of the 'Invisibilia' podcast delves into the complex nature of emotions and challenges the traditional understanding that emotions are innate, universal, and automatic responses to stimuli. The episode begins with the story of Renato Rosaldo, an anthropologist who discovered a new emotion called 'liget' among a community in the Philippines. Despite years of research, Rosaldo struggled to understand or feel liget until a personal tragedy allowed him to experience its intensity. This sets the stage for a broader exploration of the nature of emotions.

The episode then transitions to a legal case involving Tommy Jarrett, a truck driver who sued the family of a child, Michaela, who died in a car accident he was involved in, claiming emotional distress. This case prompts a discussion about where emotions come from and how much control we have over them. The narrative contrasts Tommy's experience with that of Michaela's mother, Amanda, who also grapples with her emotions following the accident. The court's decision in Tommy's favor reflects a cultural shift in recognizing emotional distress as a legitimate, compensable injury, akin to physical harm.

The podcast introduces Lisa Feldman Barrett, a psychology professor with a revolutionary theory of emotion. Barrett argues that emotions are not universal, automatic reactions wired into our brains, but rather are constructed by our concepts and shaped by culture. This theory suggests that we have more control over our emotions than previously believed. The episode uses Tommy's and Amanda's stories to illustrate Barrett's ideas, showing how their emotional responses to the accident were influenced by their life experiences, beliefs, and the cultural concepts they had internalized.