how emotion develop

Objective of the Video

To learn how emotions are generated in the human brain  

Key Learnings from the Video

1. How Emotions are Generated in the Human Brain?

Emotions are generated in the human brain due to the following:

i. Amygdala

Amygdala is a cluster of almond-shaped cells located near the base of the brain. It helps you in understanding your emotions and taking decisions.

For example:

When you are angry, your heart rate and blood pressure increase. This happens due to the amygdala as it helps in expressing your emotions.

ii. Insula/Insular cortex

The insular cortex is located deep within the lateral sulcus of the brain. It generates a feeling of disgust.

For example:

You get a feeling of disgust on looking at the unhygienic food due to the insular cortex.

Insula/Insular cortex helps you in the following:

a. Sensory processing: Insula helps you to experience the senses like sound, smell, taste, sight, and touch.

b. Motor control: Insula helps in establishing better coordination between your different organs like hand and eye.

Insula also helps in gastrointestinal function and speech articulation.

c. Self-awareness: Insula helps you to be aware of certain emotions like hunger, thirst, anger, etc. for which you don’t have to depend on others.

d. Decision-making: Insula helps you in taking the right decisions.

For example:

If you want to decide whether to go to a crowded market to buy household goods or not, then insula guides you to go the market with proper protection like wearing masks and gloves and sanitising your hands.

Insula helps in building an emotional connect with your sensory organs like smell and taste.

For example:

You are attracted to food stalls due to their smell. After tasting the food, you are more attracted to the food. This is due to the emotional connection build by the insula.

You should feel blessed that you can experience and express emotions. So, being emotional is not a bad thing at all.

iii. Genetics

Some emotions are genetic that is transferred from one generation to another.

For example:

Some people get angry easily because their parents or grandparents have experienced the same emotions.

You should identify whether your emotions are genetic or not.

If your emotions are genetic, then you will have limited control over them. However, you can decide on how to express these emotions.

iv. Lack of sleep

A human body needs 6-8 hours of sleep for strong thinking power and concentration.

Lack of sleep has a negative effect on your body like:

Reduces your concentration and thinking ability 

Reduces the ability to communicate with others effectively

Increases the risk of anxiety and depression

Reduces your immunity

Increases the chances of accidents as you are not able to walk or drive properly

 v. Stress

Stress means an emotional or physical tension that you take due to any reason that bothers factors that are bothering you.

For example:

You take stress when your children are giving exams. It starts from the day your children have started preparing for their exams and ends on the day of their results.

Whenever you have stress, identify whether it has an impact on your physical health or not. If it affects your physical health, then analyse the situation and determine the reasons for stress and try to solve the main issue. 

vi. Hormonal changes

The changes in the hormones of the human body cause a negative impact. During hormonal changes, a person experiences one emotion more than other emotions.

For example:

Thyroid patients get easily irritated, angry, tired, and even experience depression.

Mood swings make you more sensitive and you get irritated by small things. You should analyse the reasons behind these mood swings like it may be due to a lack of sleep or hormonal changes.

When mood swings occur due to hormonal changes, the measure of their index increases.

For example:

Women taking birth control pills and going through the PMS cycle get irritated or angry easily. The urge to eat something frequently in a PMS cycle is only due to hormonal changes.

2. Recognising Emotions

The following things help you to recognise your emotions:

i. Understand your emotion

You should understand your emotions. If you are not able to understand your emotion, then you should ask yourself.

ii. Don’t give your key of emotions to anyone

You should always have the key to your happiness or sadness with you only. This will help you to understand your purposefulness, ownership of life, and keeps you aware of whether your emotions are moving in the right direction or not.

iii. Negative emotions = Negative thoughts

Your thought process works as per your emotions. You get negative thoughts when you have negative emotions.

iv. Notice your emotion of unhappiness

To improve mental health, you should notice the situation which makes you unhappy. Whenever you experience a negative feeling, you should take a pause of 1 or 2 minutes to think and then take the decision.

v. Seek help

You should share your negative thoughts with your friends, family members, and colleagues.

3. Benefits of Recognising the Emotions

You become a better person, friend, and colleague.

You will be able to control your emotions.

You will be able to do the right assessment and take the right decisions.

Key Outcomes of the Video

Analyse your emotional behaviour to be a better person

Recognise your emotions to control them 

Improve your decision-making power by assessing your emotions in daily life