How to Do Things with Emotions

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An expansive look at how culture shapes our emotions—and how we can benefit from less anger and more shame. The world today is rife with anger, with values clashing and tempers rising in ways that seem frenzied and cruel. Meanwhile, political leaders often lack a sense of shame, displaying carelessness with the truth and the common good. Owen Flanagan explains that emotions are actions influenced by cultural norms and scripts. While the ways we express emotions like anger and shame do not guarantee emotional or ethical balance, we can control and change how we experience them. Flanagan passionately argues for reducing anger and increasing shame, drawing on global cultures to illustrate better ways to perform these emotions. Through insights from anthropology, psychology, and cross-cultural philosophy, Flanagan reveals the diverse expressions of anger and shame across societies. He highlights that certain types of anger, especially those leading to revenge, can be more destructive than we realize. Conversely, some forms of shame can protect positive values such as courage, kindness, and honesty. Flanagan advocates for embracing shame as a socializing emotion that promotes moral progress where undisciplined anger cannot. This exploration celebrates the plasticity of our emotional responses and our freedom to recalibrate them for more fulfilling lives.