Richard Firth-Godbehere is a British researcher and consultant in the history, language, science, and philosophy of emotions. He is known for his work on disgust and emotions. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary University of London.
Richard Firth-Godbehere graduated from the University of London with a first-class degree. During his undergraduate studies, he won two academic excellence awards. He then pursued an MPhil at the University of Cambridge and a PhD at Queen Mary, University of London, where he was a Wellcome Trust Scholar. His research spans several disciplines, including history, psychology, linguistics, and futurology.
His interest in emotions began when he tried to understand his wife's struggle with emetophobia, a severe fear of vomiting. "I wanted to understand it," he later recalled. His research led him to the history of emotions, which allowed him to explore disgust in a broader historical and philosophical context.
His work attracted interest beyond academic circles, prompting him to write A Human History of Emotion (2021). The book examines how emotions have shaped history and how people's understanding of them has evolved. "I thought it was about time there was a book on the subject for people outside academia," he explained.
The book covers various historical events, including the Greek understanding of emotions and how their philosophy continues to shape modern thought. It also explores the role of emotions in the Crusades, perceptions of witches and the impact of shell shock. Firth-Godbehere has chosen themes that link past and present, highlighting how emotions influence society. "I wanted each of my stories to be something new to a wider audience," he said.
His research spans the future of emotions, including artificial intelligence and affective computing. He has noted that AI research is moving beyond basic emotional recognition to more complex simulations of emotions. He also explores how emotions are becoming more globalised through shared digital communication.
Photo credit: X @DrRichFG
