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00:00 Humans aren't robots.
00:03 Despite all the looming, gloomy prophecies that we might one day become machines, we're
00:09 still very much guided by other, less automated forces.
00:13 By our instincts and beliefs, memories, thoughts, and feelings.
00:19 But what would happen if all those guiding voices were taken away?
00:24 What would happen if you couldn't feel anything?
00:28 This is Unveiled, and today we're answering the extraordinary question, "What if humans
00:34 didn't have emotions?"
00:36 Do you need the big questions answered?
00:39 Are you constantly curious?
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00:46 more thought-provoking content!
00:49 At its simplest, an emotion is a mental state of being.
00:53 There isn't one agreed-upon definition, however, and research into emotions can go
00:59 many ways.
01:01 The word itself, "emotion", dates back to at least the 16th century, and derives
01:07 from a French term meaning "to stir up".
01:10 This image of a melting pot, a swirl of different things combining together, is apt.
01:17 Emotions are rarely singular or straightforward.
01:20 They're a blend, and they're difficult to pin down.
01:24 Nevertheless, scientists and philosophers have tried.
01:28 In history, what we now view as emotions were at times interpreted to be a sign of divinity,
01:35 or as a bridge to the gods.
01:37 Some believed that personal passions and moods were sent and controlled by deities.
01:44 Times have moved on, but there is still a sense that our emotions are uncontrollable
01:49 to us.
01:50 We can't help how we feel.
01:52 And given that so much of what we do and think, all of what we do and think according to some
01:58 models is shaped by emotion, that's a bit of a problem.
02:03 It's like our emotions are constantly lurking in the background, waiting to pull at our
02:08 strings and dictate what happens to us next.
02:12 Measuring emotions is, again, tricky, but there are certain aspects we can look out
02:17 for.
02:18 Emotions trigger an internal, entirely subjective response to any one thing.
02:24 But they also guide our actions, the things we say, the facial expressions we make.
02:29 They can trigger various involuntary physiological responses, such as sweating or goosebumps,
02:36 but can also lead us to make other voluntary moves, such as physically moving away or towards
02:42 an object or person.
02:44 Emotions in themselves are usually seen as fleeting, short, sharp bursts of feeling that
02:51 can sometimes disappear so quickly that you might not even realize you'd even experienced
02:57 them.
02:58 When emotions hang around, we might describe them instead as a mood or, if they hang around
03:05 for even longer, a mindset.
03:08 Even in just the first flash of emotion, though, they demand our attention and essentially
03:13 motivate our behaviours.
03:16 Sometimes it's impossible to move past the emotional response, which is why we say things
03:21 like we "see red" when we're angry, or we're "love-drunk" when everything
03:25 is made better thanks to just one emotional link.
03:29 At times, emotions can then lead to irrational or extreme behaviours, as even our so-called
03:37 voice of reason is ultimately guided by emotion.
03:42 Emotions are split as to how and why we have emotions in the first place.
03:47 Some claim that they leave a wholly physical trace through our brains.
03:52 Certain areas, such as the limbic system, the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala, are
03:57 thought to be key to generating emotion, processing fired-up chemicals to produce our responses.
04:05 However, others maintain that at least some emotions, perhaps most, are created based
04:11 on external factors such as culture, environment, and upbringing.
04:17 Lisa Feldman Barrett's theory of "constructed emotion" is perhaps the leading model for
04:23 this way of thinking.
04:24 Clearly, this is still an evolving field of research, filled with nuance rather than certainty,
04:31 but there is one way we could theoretically remove all the ambiguity.
04:37 What happens if humans didn't have emotions at all?
04:42 First off, we might lose a lot of our survival instincts.
04:46 For example, fear is an emotion, and if it gets out of control, it can be debilitating.
04:52 But at its root, fear is there to urge caution.
04:56 Some people are more afraid of heights than others, but in all of us, there is at least
05:00 some recognition that being high up is different to being at ground level.
05:06 Scientists believe that this is an evolved emotion, to warn us to tread carefully or
05:11 else possibly fall and probably die.
05:15 Similarly, admiration can be viewed as an emotion, developed over history to better
05:21 enable us to build social links, friendship groups, wider societies, civilizations, and
05:27 so on.
05:28 It perhaps isn't a survival instinct in the same sense, but it does contribute to a core
05:34 aspect of what it means to be human.
05:37 If you take these away, then there's a good argument that human beings would suddenly
05:42 be extremely vulnerable.
05:45 Without emotions as a means to assess what's safe and not, good or bad, right or wrong,
05:52 we could quickly end up directionless, and much more likely to get into trouble.
05:58 In some scenarios, and particularly without fear informing our choices, we'd be more
06:04 likely to get physically injured, or even to die.
06:08 Elsewhere, however, and if there were a way to maintain these core kinds of safety net
06:16 emotions, but to do away with everything else, would it be for the best?
06:21 Right away, you might argue that yes, it would.
06:24 Without emotions, there's no such thing as sadness, heartbreak, or anxiety.
06:29 There's nothing to fuel stress, paranoia, or self-consciousness.
06:34 Humans would never be angry, disappointed, disgusted, embarrassed, or ashamed.
06:39 All in all, it would seemingly make for a much simpler life.
06:44 Without emotions, there really are no bad feelings.
06:49 Things like hate and arrogance don't exist, even entire conditions such as depression
06:54 wouldn't set in, according to some definitions of what emotions are.
06:59 Of course, there's a trade-off, and on the other side, there would no longer be happiness,
07:05 optimism, or love.
07:07 In terms of physical behavior, there'd be no more laughter, and while crying perhaps
07:13 isn't your favorite thing to do, there'd be no more tears of joy either.
07:18 Without love, we'd have no loved ones.
07:22 You'd view your family and friends as just the same as everyone else.
07:26 There'd be no such thing as respect.
07:28 There'd be no one out there who cared.
07:32 Instead, life would become just a series of tasks to start and finish, over and over,
07:38 with no emotional investment in the what, why, or how.
07:44 Interestingly, this actually isn't a wholly hypothetical scenario.
07:51 Alexithymia is a neuropsychological condition which leads to people being unable to acknowledge,
07:58 express, or even have emotions.
08:02 Otherwise known as emotional blindness, Alexithymia isn't generally classed as a mental disorder,
08:09 but it is thought to affect around 10% of people.
08:14 It works differently from case to case, but broadly, those with it really don't feel
08:20 happiness or sadness or annoyance or sympathy.
08:25 For some, it's a total blank slate, with no emotions whatsoever, but for others, it's
08:31 more like there are some big open gaps in their emotional range.
08:36 For example, one Alexithymic might feel anger no problem, but they might never feel sadness.
08:44 Many report feeling no emotional response during even some of the most significant moments
08:49 in their lives, such as on their wedding day or at the birth of their children.
08:54 Some Alexithymics can be very self-analytical as a result, constantly trying to figure out
09:00 the reasons for or the logic behind their seeming lack of feeling.
09:05 However, researchers are keen to point out that Alexithymics are not heartless people
09:11 as a rule, and in fact, can often be fairer, more considerate, and wiser than others, thanks
09:18 to their own relationship or lack of with their emotions.
09:24 Alexithymia is generally considered along a kind of spectrum, however.
09:29 There are degrees of Alexithymic severity that any one person can experience.
09:35 An alternate reality where no human ever has any emotional response to anything is a wholly
09:42 different place, and ultimately, although there would be no emotional understanding
09:48 of boredom, perhaps it would be a very boring world.
09:54 There's some argument that it would be a highly efficient and functional world without
09:59 emotions to blur our judgement or basically waste our time, and if we were stuck inside
10:06 such a place, then perhaps we'd never feel motivated to try break out of it.
10:12 But from the outside looking in, what do you think?
10:16 Is a life without emotions a life that you would want to live?
10:20 Let us know in the comments!
10:22 Is it worth feeling sad to feel happy?
10:25 Would you trade surprise if it meant you'd never be disappointed again?
10:30 It's true that humans aren't robots, and emotions are one of the big reasons why, but
10:36 that's what would happen if we didn't have them at all.
10:42 What do you think?
10:43 Is there anything we missed?
10:44 Let us know in the comments!
10:46 Check out these other clips from Unveiled, and make sure you subscribe and ring the bell
10:51 for our latest content.