Doug NollI'm called in when human dynamics are getting in the way of strategic leadership execution.

Why “I’m Upset” Doesn’t Work, Your Brain Needs a Precise Emotional Label

16 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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A 2007 UCLA study found that naming emotions precisely calms your amygdala more than vague labels like "I'm upset." Saying "I'm embarrassed and my credibility feels at stake" activates your brain's emotional control center better than broad statements. Specificity matters for actually settling down.

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In 2007, Lieberman and his colleagues at UCLA released an fMRI study that showed that naming an emotion precisely directly reduced amygdala activity and activated the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex associated with emotional self-control. Now, the precision requirement is critical. "I'm upset" is too broad. You have to be specific. For example, "I'm embarrassed and I feel like my credibility is at stake." The more specific you are with what you're naming, the better off you are and the faster your amygdala will quiet down. Vague labeling does not work.