From the Lab

How Emotions Are Made

May 13, 2026 · By Xavier Savage · Resources

Why should I read How Emotions Are Made

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How Emotions Are Made, is a must read for those of us, who are interested in psychology and neuroscience.

I am a big believer in understanding how the brain works, and how our default thinking patterns can influence our world. And the way we view others.

How hard is it to control our emotions

Most of think it is impossible to change your emotions and attitude.

The truth is the brain is capable of re writing itself,  changining, emotions are viewed as reflexes to triggers but that doesn’t mean you can train your mind.

We don’t always wear are emotions on our sleeves

Consider actors/actresses in movies they can cry, but are they really upset.

Or consider how some days you may appear to be happy and are really sad.

Im 2007, TSA wasted 900 million on a project geared towards, finding terrorist based off of their body language and facial expressions.

And yes it was a waste of tax payers money.

how emotions are made variation is normal

When determine hoe emotions are made, its vital we realize that the way each person get happy or said is dependent on that person.

What you might do when happy can vary greatly, depending on what or who is making you happy.

You may get a promotion or a hot date and appear stone faced or try to play it cool.

While on the inside you are bursting with joy.

Which is an experience and emotion the next man or woman would gladly display over the same scenario.

How emotions are made will not only vary from person to person but can vary within the same individual.

Interoception

Think of the way we drive our cars, or walk somewhere we;ve been before,. One second we are at home, the next second we are at our destination.

This is called Interoception, its our brain running tasks its familiar with on auto pilot.

Our emotions work the same way, certain events can trigger certain feelings, for example we all have seen someone misinterpret news that should make them happy, and it makes them sad or angry instead.

After processing it fora few seconds, or having someone rephrase their answer the person becomes happy, or may be come relieved but a little up set still.

How their emotions are made, in this moment, is based off a past situation or them being fixated or having their mind made up to have certain emotions.

This can be remedied by slowing down and thinking through the events that trigger you.

Culturally constructed beliefs about emotions

Lets take a look at the word sadness, Tahitian’s have no way of describing this emotion.

The Romans had no word for the word smiling.

Both cultures have words, and gestures that would me little to us. Or wouldn’t be alb e to serve us.

We get angry based off of the way we are programmed from the media (tv, and internet) , to the way our parents get angry.

We learn emotional states from others.

Summary of how emotions are made

We can determine how our emotions are made, and where we derived each one of them from we can regulate them. Letting certain emotions run rampant, will only cause use to waste precious energy.

Unlocked

Xavier Savage

Founder, XPERFORMANCELAB

I do not shape muscle. I shape structure. The person you become is the person you construct.

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