What is emotional armor?

Emotional armor refers to psychological defense mechanisms or emotional barriers people create to protect themselves from being hurt. Tim Ferriss discusses his own experience with emotional armor, explaining that it can effectively keep things out but also trap a lot inside. He notes that viewing emotion and emotional attachment as weaknesses, he developed a very analytical and pain-tolerant approach to life. He acknowledges that this armor handicapped him in certain ways by limiting his emotional range and making him prioritize competition over vulnerability 1 .

Brené Brown, speaking with Tim Ferriss, describes emotional armor as behaviors and thought patterns developed to protect oneself from being hurt. She points out that everyone carries some level of trauma that leads to armoring up, and at a certain point, that armor no longer serves us. It can instead prevent us from being seen and known by others. Addressing this armor is an essential developmental milestone, especially in midlife, when the weight of the armor becomes too heavy and it begins to hinder growth rather than protect 2 . Brown highlights the importance of replacing armor with curiosity—becoming curious about oneself and the world as a means to grow and understand ourselves better. Therapy is often a critical component in addressing the trauma that underlies the development of emotional armor 3 .