EMOTIONAL BRAIN: Power, Pathology, and the Policing of Feelings

DESCRIPTION

This presentation examines how colonial and post-colonial frameworks have shaped the
ways societies value, regulate, and pathologize emotions. It highlights the historical and
ongoing biopolitical strategies that prioritize certain emotional expressions while

suppressing others, particularly in marginalized and colonized communities. Participants
will explore the interplay of cultural norms, emotional imperialism, and contemporary
psychological practices, and gain insight into decolonial approaches to working with
emotions that honor embodied and culturally situated emotional experiences.

Emotions have historically been regulated and pathologized through colonial frameworks
that prioritized European ideals of behavior, emotional expression, and “peace.” Practices
like talk therapy, mindfulness, and emotional regulation often reflect these biases, favoring
rationalized, prefrontal cortex-driven responses over natural, embodied limbic system
experiences. This webinar investigates the biopolitics of emotions, exploring how
colonialism imposed normative hierarchies on feelings, demonized culturally-specific
emotional expressions such as sacred rage, and enforced emotional conformity. Participants
will examine decolonial strategies for engaging with emotions, incorporating body-based
practices, shadow work, and culturally sensitive approaches to emotional expression.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to analyze how socio-cultural and colonial frameworks have shaped the pathologizing and regulation of emotions across diverse communities.(Core: C, D, P; SET: D; STT: F)
2. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to evaluate the impact of emotional policing on intimacy skills, sexual development, and relational dynamics throughout the life course.
   (Core: B, E, H; SET: C; STT: A)
3. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to critique dominant therapeutic approaches such as talk therapy and mindfulness for their reliance on Eurocentric ideals of emotional regulation.
   (Core: A, O, P; SET: C, D; STT: A)
4. At the end of the session, attendees will be able to identify ethical strategies for working with diverse populations whose emotional expressions have been historically silenced or pathologized.
   (Core: A, J, C; SET: C, D; STT: F)

AVAILABLE ON

ErosCoaching	AASECT CE · Standard Access	Access Now
The Elsewheres	AASECT CE · Collective Access	Access Now
Forbidden Tickets	Community Access	Access Now
Eventbrite	Open Access	Access Now

Learn More about AASECT.

Access Key
Standard Access: Full course access with AASECT Continuing Education credits. Ideal for licensed clinicians and certified professionals fulfilling CE requirements (First-come, first-served).
Collective Access: Full course access with AASECT Continuing Education credits, offered at a lower price point to support decolonial participation across professional communities (First-come, first-served).
Community Access: Full course access without AASECT CE credits, designed for BIPOC, queer, kink+, and sex-positive community members engaging outside of a clinical or certification context.
Open Access: Registration open to all, including international students. No AASECT CE credits issued. Suitable for anyone curious about the subject matter regardless of professional background.

EDUCATOR BIO