A racing heart before a big moment, a knot in the stomach when we’re stressed, or a sudden sense of calm after a deep breath.

Why do emotions feel so physical? Emotions are not just experiences in the mind - they are whole-body events.

This episode explores the psychology of emotion, focusing on how the brain and body constantly communicate to shape what we feel. From fear and anger to joy and love, emotional experiences emerge from a dynamic feedback loop between the brain and the body.

This week, we’re joined by Dr Jo Kandola to examine how the brain interprets signals from the body, why emotions are accompanied by physical sensations, and how this process influences our behaviour and decision-making.

Follow for a new episode every Friday!

References:

• Nummenmaa, L., Hari, R., Hietanen, J. K., & Glerean, E. (2018). Maps of subjective feelings. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(37), 9198–9203. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1807390115
• Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes’ error: Emotion, reason, and the human brain. New York: Putnam.
• James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9(34), 188–205. https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/os-IX.34.188

A podcast exploring the psychology behind current events, daily decision-making, and the ideas that frame our thinking.

Brought to you by the expert team of chartered business psychologists at Pearn Kandola LLP.

Find out more at pearnkandola.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.