Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett

Well, we've studied the power of words in many contexts, including words as invitations to make sense of, you know, so if an instance of emotion is you making meaning of what is going on inside your body in relation to the world, then you invite people. Every time you use an emotion word, you invite people to make meaning in that way.

Well, we've studied the power of words in many contexts, including words as invitations to make sense of, you know, so if an instance of emotion is you making meaning of what is going on inside your body in relation to the world, then you invite people. Every time you use an emotion word, you invite people to make meaning in that way.

Well, yes, but I wouldn't say I've proven anything. Scientists don't... Shown, demonstrated. Yeah, demonstrated in a context, right? Scientists don't like the F word. I like the other F word, but the fact, fact. That's a tough one because it means something that holds under all circumstances in all contexts. And That's very rarely the case. But yes, we have.

Well, yes, but I wouldn't say I've proven anything. Scientists don't... Shown, demonstrated. Yeah, demonstrated in a context, right? Scientists don't like the F word. I like the other F word, but the fact, fact. That's a tough one because it means something that holds under all circumstances in all contexts. And That's very rarely the case. But yes, we have.

And I mean, so if you've done it probably a million times, you text things to people, do you not?

And I mean, so if you've done it probably a million times, you text things to people, do you not?

Yeah. And when you text... A couple of words to your partner or your friend, you can change their heart rate. You change their breathing rate. You can change all kinds of chemicals, all kinds of protein synthesis just with a couple of words. Again, free speech is important. Freedoms are important, but freedoms come with responsibilities.

Yeah. And when you text... A couple of words to your partner or your friend, you can change their heart rate. You change their breathing rate. You can change all kinds of chemicals, all kinds of protein synthesis just with a couple of words. Again, free speech is important. Freedoms are important, but freedoms come with responsibilities.

Like it or not, we regulate each other's nervous systems in all kinds of ways, including with words.

Like it or not, we regulate each other's nervous systems in all kinds of ways, including with words.

For better or for worse. Exactly.

For better or for worse. Exactly.

Right. I mean, there's good stress. You can't be without stress. That would mean you'd be without effort. So sometimes scientists will talk about good stress and bad stress, which really just means stress that is planned and where you replenish what you spend and stress that is pernicious and you don't.

Right. I mean, there's good stress. You can't be without stress. That would mean you'd be without effort. So sometimes scientists will talk about good stress and bad stress, which really just means stress that is planned and where you replenish what you spend and stress that is pernicious and you don't.

Chronic stress. So what I would say is just if you're in a stressful meeting... a meeting where it's affecting your mood, that means there's been some metabolic impact, take into account what that means.

Chronic stress. So what I would say is just if you're in a stressful meeting... a meeting where it's affecting your mood, that means there's been some metabolic impact, take into account what that means.

No.

No.

I'm pretty firmly an atheist. I don't think that the wondrous complexity of nature or the brain or the nervous system requires a designer. And that logic doesn't make sense to me.

I'm pretty firmly an atheist. I don't think that the wondrous complexity of nature or the brain or the nervous system requires a designer. And that logic doesn't make sense to me.