By: Eric L Johnson, PhD
In this thought-provoking lecture, Dr. Eric Johnson (Houston Baptist University) explores why psychology has focused so heavily on the mind while largely ignoring the heart as a psychological construct.
Across cultures and languages—English, Chinese, and beyond—the “heart” is used to describe our deepest emotions, moral center, desires, and true self. Idioms like “follow your heart,” “heartbroken,” and “heart-to-heart” reflect a universal human experience rooted in both physiology and meaning.
Dr. Johnson draws on neuroscience, interoception, Polyvagal theory, cognitive linguistics, and philosophy to argue that the heart is not just metaphorical—it is central to how people experience life, purpose, and relationships.
