Categories: Emotions, Brain Science

The most recent film release from Pixar Studios, Inside Out, is an animated study of emotion - their bothersome presence as well as their value to inform. All too often we interpret emotions such as sadness or fear as something to be avoided, as something negative. But the folks at Pixar through animated storytelling provide a view of our emotions that reveal them as helpful to and organizers of our thinking, even essential to our moral code and social behaviors. The filmakers consulted with two eminent experts on emotions (Paul Ekman and Dacher Keltner) and as a result, most of what they portray in the movie is an accurate representation of how our emotions operate. Being a Hollywood film, there are embellishments and some things made up (spoiler alert: Imagination Land).

We offer a series of articles about the film that clarify the role of emotions and which concepts are made up and which are accurate. Hats off to Pixar for helping many people see the benefits and richness of the range of human emotions, from joy through anger, sadness, disgust and fear.

Categories: Emotions, Brain Science

The animated film, Inside Out, produced by Pixar is a delightful romp through five of our emotions. It highlights the positive impact our emotions produce even those we tend to think of as negative.

Here are some quick introductions to the movie's five featured emotions. Enjoy these flicks and then go to the movie, you will enjoy it even more!

Sadness, disgust, fear, anger and joy. Not a complete account of our emotions but the story would be too complicated if they included more in the film. Look at what happens when just two of these emotions are combined!