Lisa Feldman Barrett
Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Northeastern University
About
Lisa Feldman Barrett is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University, with appointments at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She is among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world, known for developing the theory of constructed emotion — the idea that emotions are not hardwired but constructed by the brain based on past experience and context. She is the author of How Emotions Are Made (2017) and Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (2020).
Key Contributions
- Developed the theory of constructed emotion, challenging the classical view of universal emotions
- Author of How Emotions Are Made and Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain
- Among the top 0.1% most cited scientists in the world
- President of the Association for Psychological Science (2019–2020)
- Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of the APA Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award
Videos & Interviews
Lisa Feldman Barrett: Counterintuitive Ideas About How the Brain Works | Lex Fridman Podcast #129
Wide-ranging conversation on how the brain constructs emotions, the nature of affect, and why classical theories of emotion are wrong
Watch on YouTube
The brain myth that won't die | Lisa Feldman Barrett
Talk debunking persistent misconceptions about how the brain works and why they matter
Watch on YouTube
